View source for Bloch MB.162

{{Short description|1940s French bomber aircraft}}
{{Infobox aircraft
|name           = MB.162
|image          = Bloch mb-162.jpg
|caption        =
|type           = [[Heavy bomber|Heavy Bomber]]
|national_origin = [[France]]
|manufacturer   = [[Société des Avions Marcel Bloch]]
|designer       =
|first_flight   = 1 June 1940
|introduction   = 1943
|retired        =
|status         =
|primary_user   = ''[[Luftwaffe]]''
|produced       =
|number_built   = 1
|program cost   =
|unit cost      =
|developed_from =[[Bloch MB.161]]
|variants =
}}
The '''Bloch MB.162''' was a  [[France|French]] four-engine, long-range [[bomber]] developed by [[Société des Avions Marcel Bloch]] in the late 1930s. Only one [[prototype]] was built; after capture by [[Nazi Germany|German]] forces, it was pressed into service with the ''[[Luftwaffe]]'' as a transport.

==Development==
The designation MB.162 was originally applied to a long-range derivative of the [[Bloch MB.160|MB.160]] four-engined colonial airliner, to be powered by four [[Gnome-Rhône 14P]] engines.{{sfn|Ricco|2012–2013|p=60}} While intended for use as a [[mail plane]] and long-range communication aircraft,{{sfn|Green|1967|p=105}} the "MB.162 Raid" was planned to take part in the [[1937 Istres–Damascus–Paris Air Race]], and when slow development meant that it could not be completed in time to compete in the race, development was abandoned, with the first prototype MB.160 being entered in its place.{{sfn|Ricco|2012–2013|p=60}}

The '''MB.162 01''' bomber prototype first flew in June 1940 and was captured subsequent to the [[Armistice with France (Second Compiègne)|Armistice]]. Had the MB.162 entered production in 1941 as planned, it would have been a notable and fast heavy bomber for the French, somewhat analogous to the [[B-17 Flying Fortress|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 ''[[Kampfgeschwader 200|I/KG 200]]'' for clandestine affairs during 1943–1944.

==Variants==
[[Bloch MB.160|MB.160]]:
:civil transport prototype with smaller span, longer, single central fin. Three built.
; MB.161: produced postwar as airliner [[Sud-Est Languedoc|SE.161 Languedoc]]. 100 built
; MB.162 Raid
:Long-range mailplane version
; MB.162.01
:prototype, one built
; MB.162 Bn.5
:Production model - never produced

==Military operators==
; {{FRA}}
* ''[[Armee de l'Air]]'' (postwar)
; {{flag|Germany|Nazi}}
* ''[[Luftwaffe]]''

==Specifications (MB.162 B5)==
[[File:Bloch MB.162B5 3-view.jpg|thumb|3-views of the Bloch MB.162 B5.]]
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=''War Planes of the Second World War: Volume Seven''{{sfn|Green|1967|p=106}}
|prime units?=met
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|crew=5
|length m=21.91
|length note=
|span m=28.1
|span note=
|height m=3.76
|height note=
|wing area sqm=109
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=11890
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=19040
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=[[Gnome-Rhône 14N-48]]
|eng1 type=14-cylinder two-row air-cooled [[radial engine]]
|eng1 kw=820
|eng1 note=LH rotation

|eng2 number=2
|eng2 name=[[Gnome-Rhône 14N-49]]
|eng2 type=14-cylinder two-row air cooled [[radial engine]]
|eng2 kw=820
|eng2 note=RH rotation

|prop blade number=3
|prop name=variable-pitch propellers
|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia note=
<!--
        Performance
-->
|max speed kmh=551
|max speed note=at {{cvt|5500|m}}
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed kmh=
|minimum control speed note=
|range km=2399
|range note=
|combat range km=
|combat range note=
|ferry range km=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m=9000
|ceiling note=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=<br />
:*{{cvt|2000|m}} 5 minutes 48 seconds
:*{{cvt|5000|m}} in 18 minutes
|wing loading kg/m2=175
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|power/mass={{cvt|0.17|kW/kg}}
|more performance=
<!--
        Armament
-->
|guns= 2 × 7.5 mm (.295 in) [[MAC 1934]] [[machine gun]]s in nose and ventral positions
* 2 × 20 mm [[Hispano-Suiza HS.404]] cannon in ventral and dorsal positions
|bombs= {{cvt|3600|kg|0}} of bombs

|avionics=
}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Aviation}}
{{Aircontent
|see also=
|related=
* [[SNCASE Languedoc]]
|similar aircraft=
|lists=
* [[List of aircraft of the French Air Force during World War II]]
}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |last=Green |first=William |title=War Planes of the Second World War: Bombers and Reconnaissance Aircraft, Volume Seven |year=1967 |location=London |publisher=Macdonald }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Ricco |first=Phillipe |title=Le Bloch 162 |magazine=Aero Journal |issue=32 |date=December 2012 – January 2013 |language=fr |pages=60–65 |issn=1962-2430}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Bloch MB.162}}
* [http://www.aviafrance.com/298.htm Aviafrance]{{in lang|fr}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081119171853/http://www.dassault-aviation.com/en/passion/aircraft/military-bloch-aircraft/mb-162.html?L=1 MB 162 - Dassault Aviation]

{{Bloch aircraft}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bloch Mb.162}}
[[Category:Bloch aircraft|MB.162]]
[[Category:Four-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:1930s French airliners]]
[[Category:1940s French bomber aircraft]]
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1940]]
[[Category:Four-engined piston aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft with retractable conventional landing gear]]