Bloch MB.700

Monoplane Fighter Prototype [ 1940 ]

The sole prototype that was completed and flown of the Bloch MB.700 fighter was blown up by the conquering Germans in 1940.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 01/14/2019 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

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Like other global powers of the 1930s and 1940s, the French at one point entertained the thought of adopting an all-wood fighter amidst growing concerns about scarcity of natural resources during wartime - particularly of metals. In 1936 the French Air Ministry drew up a requirement for a lightweight single-seat fighter to be largely composed of wood and other non-critical materials. Three notable submissions were received from French industry players - Bloch, Arsenal, and Caudron.

Andre Herbemont designed for Bloch the "Model 700"and construction of a prototype was undertaken at Suresnes which now fell under the brand label of Societe Nationale de Construction Aeronautiques du Sud-Ouest (SNCASO). The Model 700 was fitted with a Gnome-Rhone 14M-6 radial piston engine of 700 horsepower output (take-off power) driving a three-blade propeller at the nose. The design lines of the aircraft were clean for the period and sat the pilot under a lightly framed canopy near midships. A "razorback" spine provided the needed internal volume at the expense of vision to the rear of the aircraft. Wings were straight in their general form with rounded tips and the empennage consisted of a single vertical fin and mid-mounted horizontal planes. A "tail-dragger" undercarriage was featured with the main legs retracting inwards into the wings.

It was intended that the production combat form of the aircraft would carry 2 x 20mm Hispano-Suiza HS.404 series cannons and 2 x 7.5mm MAC 1934 machine guns, all contained in the wings. However this weapons fit was never introduced to the test aircraft at any point.

The completed prototype was trucked to the test location at Buc and a first flight held on April 19th, 1940. World War 2 officially began on September 1st, 1939 so there was a growing need to push the aircraft into service at speed. The prototype managed a flight of 50 minutes and showcased strong performance - its listed maximum speed was 342 miles per hour with a service ceiling of 28,550 feet. The fighter could stay airborne for roughly two hours (sans armament).

A second prototype was planned but never built and the German invasion of France in May of 1940 ended all progress on the type. With Buc airfield falling under German control the sole prototype of this promising fighter was destroyed for fear that it was booby-trapped by the French.©MilitaryFactory.com

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Specifications

Societe des Avions Marcel Bloch - France
Manufacturer(s)

France (cancelled)
Operators

1940
Service Year

France
National Origin

Cancelled
Project Status

1
Crew

1
Units

AIR-TO-AIR COMBAT
General ability to actively engage other aircraft of similar form and function, typically through guns, missiles, and/or aerial rockets.

X-PLANE
Aircraft developed for the role of prototyping, technology demonstration, or research / data collection.

24.1 ft
(7.34 meters)
Length

29.2 ft
(8.90 meters)
Width/Span

11.2 ft
(3.40 meters)
Height

2,183 lb
(990 kilograms)
Empty Weight

4,079 lb
(1,850 kilograms)
Maximum Take-Off Weight

+1,896 lb
(+860 kg)
Weight Difference

1 x Gnome-Rhone 14M-6 radial piston engine developing 700 horsepower and driving a three-bladed propeller in the nose.
Propulsion

342 mph
(550 kph | 297 knots)
Max Speed

28,543 ft
(8,700 m | 5 miles)
Ceiling

MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

PROPOSED (Never Fitted):
2 x 20mm Hispano-Suiza HS.404 cannons in wings.
2 x 7.5mm MAC 1934 machine guns in wings.

0
Hardpoints

MB.700 - Base Series Designation; sole prototype completed and flown but destroyed by the advancing Germans who believed it to be booby-trapped.

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