Bloch MB.162

MB.162
Role Heavy Bomber
National origin France
Manufacturer Société des Avions Marcel Bloch
First flight 1 June 1940
Introduction 1943
Primary user Luftwaffe
Number built 1


The Bloch MB.162 was a French four-engine, long-range bomber developed by Société des Avions Marcel Bloch in the late 1930s.While only a single prototype was built, after capture by German forces, it was impressed into service with the Luftwaffe as a transport.

Development

Developed from the speedy MB.160 long-range civil transport, the MB.162 was originally developed as a mail plane. The MB.162 01 bomber prototype first flew in June 1940 and was captured subsequent to the Armistice. Had the MB.162 entered production in 1941 as planned, it would have been a fine and fast heavy bomber for the French, somewhat analogous to the B-17 but much faster and less well armed.

Operational history

The MB.162 did not fly a single combat mission, nor did the MB.162 B.5 production model ever enter production. The prototype was used by the Luftwaffe in I/KG 200 for clandestine affairs during 1943-1944.

Variants

MB.160
civil transport prototype, 3 built
MB.162 Raid
mailplane version
MB.162.01
prototype, one built
MB.162 Bn.5
Production model - never produced
SE.161 Languedoc
Civil transport, post-war production model, 100 built.

Military operators

 France
 Germany

Specifications (MB.162 B5)

Data from War Planes of the Second World War: Volume Seven [1]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Related development


Related lists

References

Notes
  1. Green 1967, p.106.
Bibliography

External links

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