- Yes
- No
Hello everyone, and welcome to this new suggestion.
Today, I am presenting a French aircraft prototype from the late interwar period: the Bloch M.B.170 No. 01.
In 1936, as the French Air Force sought to modernize its fleet in response to the growing threat of war, it issued a requirement for a new reconnaissance and combat aircraft. Bloch responded with the M.B.170, a twin-engine aircraft featuring a distinctive twin-tail configuration and designed to combine reconnaissance capabilities with a significant amount of offensive firepower.
The first prototype, designated M.B.170 No. 01, demonstrated particularly impressive flight characteristics for its time. Its performance made it a promising candidate for the Air Force, while its armament was unusually heavy for a reconnaissance aircraft of the period.
However, the aircraft’s design also revealed several important shortcomings. The observer was positioned in a ventral compartment beneath the fuselage, giving him a rather restricted field of view. This was particularly problematic for reconnaissance missions, where a good view of the ground was essential. The observer was also responsible for operating the rearward-firing ventral machine gun, forcing him to divide his attention between reconnaissance and defensive duties.
These limitations ultimately prevented the M.B.170 No. 01 from entering production in its original configuration. Instead of abandoning the project entirely, Bloch engineers extensively redesigned the aircraft. The prototype received a new glazed nose that considerably improved visibility for the crew, while its armament and internal layout were completely revised, with greater emphasis placed on ground-attack capabilities.
These modifications transformed the original M.B.170 into a much more capable aircraft and eventually led to the development of the M.B.174 reconnaissance variant. The same basic family would subsequently give rise to the M.B.175, optimized for bombing, and later the M.B.175T, a navalized version operated by the French Navy.
Characteristics
Length : 12.15 m
Width : 17.80 m
Height : 3.55 m
Mass :
- Empty : 5,600 kg
- Full : 7,160 kg
The aircraft is powered by two Gnome-Rhône 14N engines, each producing 1,015 hp, allowing it to reach a top speed of 529 km/h and a service ceiling of 11,000 m. Its range at a cruising speed of 400 km/h is 1,290 km.
The crew consists of three people: a pilot, a rear gunner, and a forward observer/gunner.
Weapons
The aircraft’s armament is quite interesting, featuring various calibers to engage all types of targets.
Defensive armament:
- 1 x twin 7.5mm MAC 1934 machine gun (top rear gunner)
- 1 x 7.5mm MAC 1934 machine gun (rear gondola)
Offensive armament:
- 2 x 7.5mm MAC 1934 machine guns (wing-mounted)
- 1 x 20mm Hispano-Suiza canon (nose-mounted)
In-game, this aircraft would be an interesting addition to the French tree, introducing a prototype with good flight characteristics and substantial anti-aircraft armament.
