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BLOCH MB135
Technical
Specifications
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Type
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Twin-engine seaplane for
Bombardment, Reconnaissance and Surveillance
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Date first flight
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June
1939
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Wingspan
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23.50
m
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Lenght
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19.10
m
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Height
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4.60
m
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Wing Area
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82;20
m²
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Empty Weight
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6800
kg
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Max. Takeoff Weight
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9970
kg
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Cruising Speed
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425 km/h
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Maximum Speed
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310 km/h
at 2000 m
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Climbing Speed
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280 km/h
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Service ceilling
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7100
m
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Range
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1000
kms
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Crew
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5 Men
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Motorization
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2 Engines
Gnôme-Rhône 14 N-02/03 _ 14 Cyl. star air-cooled,
1060HP at take-off
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Armament
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1x 7.5mm Darne gun
in the nose
1x 7.5mm Darne gun
in ventral position
1x Hispano-Suiza
20mm gun in dorsal position
1x 7.5mm
MAC machine gun on mount in ventral position
1340kg
of bombs or 2 x 400mm torpedoes.
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Two prototypes will
be built, before the program is abandoned on September 9, 1939.
In 1935, the STAé
(Service Technique de l'Aéronautique) issues a program to
equip the Aéronautique Navale with a multi-task seaplane:
Bombing, Reconnaissance and Torpedoes. After a modification of the
initial programme in 1937, three manufacturers responded to this
request: SNCAC with the NC-410, Loiré-Nieuport with the LN-10
and finally Bloch with the MB-480. It was the latter aircraft that
was chosen and two prototypes were ordered.
The new aircraft, twin-engine of metal construction, although having
a bi-directional tail, presented a design very close to the Bloch
131, land bomber of the brand. The Bloch MB-480 was equipped with
two floats in catamaran. The Bloch MB-480 was powered by two Gnôme-Rhone
14 N02/03 of 1060 hp. Its defense was ensured by 2 machine guns
of 7.5 and a 20mm gun in dorsal position. It could carry an offensive
charge composed of 1340 kg of bombs in bunkers or two 400mm torpedoes.
In 1938, the first prototype was built in the Ateliers de Courbevoie
and then transported by train to Marignane where it was assembled.
But it will be necessary to wait until June 1939 for the 1st flight
of the prototype followed in October by the 2nd prototype. The first
tests highlight the too low position of the horizontal tailplane:
it is under the projections of water at takeoff and its efficiency
is impaired. It was necessary to raise it of nearly 30cm, this having
for consequence to reduce the range of fire of the rear dorsal machine-gunner.
But the short career of the two prototypes BLOCH MB480 will be interrupted
on December 10, 1939. The Navy decides indeed, to use land aircraft
(LeO451) to carry out the missions planned for the Bloch MB480.
The first prototype will finally be destroyed on June 23rd 1940,
by hitting a quay in Balaruc (commune of Herault) on the Etang de
Thau where the aircraft had been evacuated. The fate of the second
prototype will not be better: abandoned until the end of the war
on the Etang de Berre, it will be vandalized and stripped by the
scrap merchants.
1) _ Editions
LELA-PRESSE :
-AVIONS : No174
The
Bloch MB480 seaplane: it could have been the heinkel
115 English
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