France's Bloch 210 medium night bomber1
Bloch 210:
Design
The Bloch 210 was all metal and had a slab sided fuselage.1 The Bloch 210 was a private venture.1
Prototype
On November 23, 1934 the Bloch 210 prototype took to the air.1
The Bloch MB 211 prototype flew for the first time in August 1935.1
Production
The Bloch 210s were produced by Bloch, Breguet, Hanriot, Potez-CAMS, Renault, and SNCAC.1
- Prototype: 11
- Bloch 210 BN4/5: 2811
- Bloch MB 211 Verdun: 11
- Total: 2831
Variants
- Prototype: Had two Gnome-Rhône 14drs radial engines (800 HP).1 The prototype had a fixed undercarriage.1
- Bloch 210: Had a retractable undercarriage.1
- Bloch 210 BN4: Production model first flew in December 1935.1
- Bloch 210 BN5: Last of production was delivered in March 1939.1
- Bloch 210??: The prototype was fitted with twin bloats in 1936 to become a torpedo floatplane.1
- Bloch MB 211 Verdun: Prototype.1
Usage
The Bloch 210 was used by Bulgaria, France, Germany, Romania, and Spain.1 Romania received 24 and Spain 35.1 After the surrender of France Bulgaria received 37 in 1942.1
Prepared for World War II
There were twelve Armée de l'Air groups equipped with the Bloch 210 in September 1939.1 By the German invasion in May 1940 there were five groups.1
Attacks
The Bloch 210s were used to attack German communication lines in the Rhineland, Belgium, and France.1
| Bloch 2101 | Bloch 210 BN51 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Medium night bomber1 | |
| Crew | 51 | |
| Engine (Type) | 2: Gnome-Rhône 14N 10/111 | |
| Cylinders | Radial 141 | |
| Cooling | ||
| Net HP | 950 each1 | |
| Propeller blades | 3 each1 | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Span | 74' 10"1 22.81 m1 |
|
| Length | 61' 9"1 18.82 m1 |
|
| Height | 22'1 6.7 m1 |
|
| Wing area | ||
| Weight | ||
| Empty | 14,110 lb1 6,400 kg1 |
|
| Loaded | 21,385 lb1 9,700 kg1 |
|
| Maximum load | 22,487 lb1 10,200 kg1 |
|
| Performance | ||
| Speed @ 11,480' / 3,500 m |
200 mph1 322 kph1 |
|
| Cruising speed | 149 mph1 240 kph1 |
|
| Climb to 13,120' / 4,000 m |
12 minutes1 | |
| Service ceiling | 32,480'1 10,000 m1 |
|
| Range with 3,806 lb / 1,728 kg load |
808 miles1 1,300 km1 |
|
| Maximum range | 1,056 miles1 1,700 km1 |
|
| Armament | ||
| Nose, dorsal, ventral turrets | 3: 7.5 mm MG1 | |
| Bombs | 3,527 lb1 1,600 kg1 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
