as the MB.174s. The MB.176 was a version with Pratt & Whitney R-1830 radials which proved to have poorer performance than the MB.175. It was ordered into production to ease demand on the French engine manufacturers. Operational history The Bloch MB.174 flew for the first time in July 1939 and entered service in March 1940 with strategic reconnaissance units where it replaced the Potez 637 that had proved too vulnerable during the Phoney war. Its first operational mission was flown by the famed pilot and writer, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, of II/33, on 29 March 1940. The Bloch 174 appeared extremely effective in these missions as its speed and manoeuvrability at altitude allowed it to escape from most modern fighters. Only three examples were lost to enemy fire during the Battle of France. Like the majority of the modern equipment of the during the campaign, they were too little and too late. At the time of the armistice, most surviving MB.174s and 175s had been evacuated to North Africa. A few were recovered by the Germans and then used for pilot training. During the Vichy period, MB.174s frequently flew over Gibraltar to monitor the British fleet. In March 1941, German engineers used engines taken from MB.175s (as well as other captured aircraft) to propel the Messerschmitt Me 323 cargo aircraft, some of which flew with parts taken from completed MB.175s. After Operation Torch, French forces defected again from Vichy back to the Allies and surviving examples of the MB.170 flew their final combat missions during the Battle of Tunisia. They were replaced by reconnaissance variants of the P-38 Lightning and used as transports and target tugs. A final version designed for torpedo bombing, the MB.175T, was built in small series in 1947 and served with the until 1950. Variants MB.170 MB.170.01 - The first prototype, equipped as reconnaissance aircraft, powered by Gnome-Rhône 14N-06 engines. MB.170.02 - The second prototype, equipped as light bomber, powered by Gnome-Rhône 14N-06 engines. MB.171 MB.172 MB.173 MB.174 MB.174.01 - The original MB.174 prototype, powered by Gnome-Rhône 14N-49 engines. MB.174A.3 - Original production version, powered by Gnome-Rhône 14N-49 engines.. 56 built MB.175 MB.175.01 - The original MB.175 prototype, powered by Gnome-Rhône 14N-48 engines. MB.175B.3 - Second production version. 23 built, plus 56 unarmed aircraft for the Luftwaffe, powered by Gnome-Rhône 14N-48 engines. MB.175T Post-war torpedo bomber version for the Aeronavale. 80 built. MB.176 MB.176.01 - The original