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Hello everyone, and welcome to this new suggestion.
Today, I am presenting a new French seaplane prototype from the interwar period: the Bloch M.B.480.
By the mid-1930s, the French Naval Air Arm operated a large variety of seaplanes, each designed for specific missions such as reconnaissance, long-range patrol, or maritime combat. However, the Navy still lacked a truly versatile aircraft capable of combining several of these roles. In 1935, the French Navy therefore issued a requirement for a new type of “combat scout” seaplane, intended to perform reconnaissance missions while also being capable of attacking enemy ships.
Marcel Bloch decided to take part in the competition and developed the M.B.480, an all-metal, low-wing monoplane equipped with two engines and floats. The aircraft was designed to provide the Navy with a modern and versatile platform capable of operating over long distances while carrying weapons for maritime attack.
The project progressed far enough for two prototypes to be constructed. The first aircraft was completed in 1938 and transferred to southern France for its flight-test program. Initial trials proved promising, with the aircraft demonstrating satisfactory flight characteristics and showing that the concept was viable.
Unfortunately, the M.B.480 arrived at a particularly unfortunate moment. The outbreak of World War II in 1939 radically changed French military priorities. With the threat of a major conflict rapidly approaching, the French Navy began concentrating its limited resources on aircraft that could be brought into service as quickly as possible.
In particular, the Navy increasingly favored land-based aircraft capable of carrying torpedoes, which offered greater potential against enemy surface vessels without the limitations associated with large seaplanes. As a result, the M.B.480 program was abandoned before the aircraft could reach production.
Characteristics
Length : 23.50 m
Width : 19.10 m
Height : 4.60 m
Mass :
- Empty : 6 800 kg
- Full : 10 000 kg
The aircraft is powered by two 1060 hp Gnome & Rhône 14N engines, enabling it to reach a top speed of 310 km/h and a service ceiling of 7,100 m. It has a range of 1,000 km.
The crew consists of four to five people, including a pilot, a navigator/bombardier, a radio operator, a mechanic/gunner, and a second gunner.
Weapons
The armament on this seaplane is very similar to that found on French aircraft from the late interwar period. It features a strong defensive armament paired with an excellent secondary payload capacity.
Defensive armament:
- 1 x 20mm Hispano-Suiza cannon (dorsal turret)
- 1 x 7.5mm MAC 1934 machine gun (ventral position)
- 1 x 7.5mm MAC 1934 machine gun (nose-mounted)
Offensive armament:
- 1,400 kg of bombs
- 2 x 400mm torpedoes (670 kg)
In-game, this aircraft would likely be the most advanced seaplane,in terms of armament, available to the French pre-war tree, carrying a substantial secondary payload while maintaining strong defensive capabilities.
Pictures
