World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe MB.150 series of fighters did not win French air ministry's competition in 1934 for a new fighter design, but they nevertheless entered production and first flew in Oct 1937. 25 of them were ordered in 1938, but none were delivered due to many technical issues with the design. By the time France declared war on Germany in Sep 1939, 120 of them (MB.151s and MB.152s) were in service with the French military, though most them still were needing parts such as gunsights and propellers to complete the construction. 10 MB.155s with broader wings were built and 19 were underway in factories when France fell in 1940. These fighters served in Axis countries of Vichy France, Germany, and Romania during the war. The only major action the aircraft of the MB.150 series saw was the invasion of France, where they were hopelessly outclassed by German Bf 109 fighters.

SPECIFICATIONS

MB.152C.1

Machinery	One Gnome-Rhone 14N-25 radial engine rated at 1,030hp
Armament	2x20mm Hispano 404 cannons and 2x7.5mm MAC 1934 machine guns, or 4x7.5mm MAC 1934 machine guns
Crew	1
Span	10.54 m
Length	9.10 m
Height	3.20 m
Wing Area	17.32 m²
Weight, Empty	2,158 kg
Speed, Maximum	509 km/h
Service Ceiling	10,000 m
Range, Normal	600 km

Visitor Submitted Comments

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1.  BILL says:
24 Mar 2009 05:05:45 PM

The Bloch 150,was designated Bloch 151 it retained the Bloch 150's general appearance, but featured a new wing. The engine was mounted 2.5 degrees to port, to counter engine torque, giving the aircraft a odd look.The first production Bloch 151 made its maiden flight 18 August 1938. An improved model the Bloch 152 retained the basic design.

2.  BILL says:
27 Mar 2009 05:00:05 PM

The Bloch 152 was first flown on Dec.15,1938 with France's entry into WWII on Sept. 3, 1939 the Armee de L'Air, had 140 aircraft in service. And 363 Bloch 152 in service on May 10,1940. The German's captured all surviving Blochs the Luftwaffe used the aircraft as trainers, and for local fighter duties, 20 Blochs were sent to Romania.

3.  BILL says:
27 Mar 2009 05:20:04 PM

The Bloch 155 was an improved variant of the Bloch 152 the new fighter used the Blochs airframe to reduce development time. Nine aircraft were completed before the Armistice on Jun. 1940 none saw action during the Battle of France, however 19 aircraft were completed after the Armistice. The Luftwaffe commandeered the remaining Bloch 155's.The Bloch 156 was to be another variant with a more powerful engine, but the aircraft was not completed. The last variant the Bloch 157 was captured by the German's the Aircraft was completed under German supervision and flew in March of 1942. The aircraft had its engine removed and sat derelict in a hanger, later it was destroyed in a US bombing raid on Paris-Orly.