https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savoia-Marchetti_SM.79
The Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero (Italian for sparrowhawk) was a
three-engined Italian medium bomber with a wood-and-metal structure. Originally
designed as a fast passenger aircraft, between 1937 and 1939 this low-wing
monoplane set 26 world records, qualifying it for some time as the fastest
medium bomber in the world. It first saw action during the Spanish Civil War and
flew on all fronts in which Italy was involved during World War II. It achieved
success as a torpedo bomber in the Mediterranean theater, and became the
best-known Italian aeroplane of the war. It was easily recognizable due to its
distinctive fuselage dorsal "hump", and was well liked by its crews, who
nicknamed it il gobbo maledetto ("damned hunchback"). It was the most numerous
Italian bomber of World War II, with some 1,300 built, remaining in Italian
service until 1952.
The SM.79 was a cantilever low-wing monoplane trimotor, with a retractable
taildragger undercarriage. The fuselage was a welded tubular steel frame covered
with duralumin in the forward section, duralumin and plywood on the upper
fuselage surface, and fabric on all other surfaces. The wings were of all-wood
construction, with trailing edge flaps and leading edge slats (Handley-Page
type) to offset their relatively small size. The internal structure was made of
three spruce and plywood spars, linked with plywood ribs, with a skin of
in takeoff. The aircraft's capabilities were significantly greater than its
predecessor, the SM.75, with over 1,715 kW (2,300 hp) available and a high wing
loading that gave it characteristics not dissimilar to a large fighter.
The engines fitted to the main bomber version were three 582 kW (780 hp) Alfa
Romeo 126 RC.34 radials, equipped with variable-pitch, all-metal three-bladed
propellers. Speeds attained were around 430 km/h (270 mph) at 4,250 m (13,940
ft), with a relatively low practical ceiling of 6,500 m (21,300 ft). Cruise
speed was 373 km/h (232 mph) at 5,000 m (16,000 ft), but the best cruise speed
was 259 km/h (161 mph) (60% power). The landing was characterized by a 200 km/h
(120 mph) final approach with the slats extended, slowing to 145 km/h (90 mph)
with extension of flaps, and finally the run over the field with only 200 m (660
ft) needed to land (2,050 rpm, 644 Hg pressure).
Role
Medium bomber, torpedo bomber
Manufacturer
Savoia-Marchetti
First flight
28 September 1934
Introduction
1936
Retired
1952 (Italy)
1959 (Lebanon)
Primary users
Regia Aeronautica
Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana
Spanish Air Force
Produced
Number built
1,240
1941...The year was one of intense activity for the Italian torpedo bombers. In
April many successes were recorded by SM.79s of the 281st and 280th. They sank
two merchant ships, heavily damaged the British cruiser HMS Manchester (sending
it out of service for nine months) and later also sank the F class destroyer HMS
Fearless. However, one SM.79 was shot down 25 nmi (46 km) north west of Gozo on
3 June, landing in the sea and staying afloat for some time. Further Italian
successes came in August, when the light cruiser HMS Phoebe was damaged. The
large merchant ship SS Imperial Star (10,886 tonnes/12,000 tons) was sunk by an
On 24 October, they sank the Empire Pelican and Empire Defender, on 23 November
they sank the Glenearn and Xhakdina, and on 11 December they heavily damaged the
Jackal.
The year ended with a total of nine Allied ships sunk and 30 damaged. The daring
Italian pilots however lost 14 torpedo bombers and another 46 were damaged in
action.
This was the best year for the Italian torpedo bombers and also the year when
the SM.84, the SM.79's successor was introduced. Overall, these numbers meant
little in the war, and almost no other results were recorded by Italian bombers.
Horizontal bombing proved to be a failure and only dive bombers and
torpedo-bombers achieved some results. The damaging of the British cruisers was
the most important result, but without German help, the Italians would have been
unable to maintain a presence in the Mediterranean theatre. The 25 Italian
bomber wings were unable to trouble the British forces, as the Battle of
Calabria demonstrated. Almost all of the major British ships lost were due to
U-boat attacks, with the damaging of HMS Warspite, and the sinking of HMS Barham
and Ark Royal. The British fleet was left without major ships in their
Mediterranean fleet, leaving the Axis better situated to control the sea.
1942...The Axis' fortunes started to decline steadily during 1942. Over 100
SM.79s were in service in different Italian torpedo squadrons. In addition to
its wide-scale deployment in its intended bomber-torpedo bomber role, the
Sparviero was also used for close support, reconnaissance and transport
missions. In the first six months of 1942, all the Italo-German efforts to hit
Allied ships had only resulted in the sinking of the merchant ship Thermopilae
by an aircraft flown by Carlo Faggioni.
1943...Before the invasion, there was a large force of torpedo aircraft: 7
Gruppi (groups), 41, 89, 104, 108, 130, 131 and 132nd equipped with dozens of
aircraft, but this was nevertheless a weak force. Except for the 104th, based
around the Aegean Sea, the other six Gruppi comprised just 61 aircraft, with
only 22 serviceable. Almost all the available machines were sent to the
Raggruppamento Aerosiluranti, but of the 44 aircraft, only a third were
considered flight-worthy by 9 July 1943. Production of new SM.79s continued to
fall behind and up to the end of July only 37 SM.79s and 39 SM.84s were
delivered. Despite the use of an improved engine, capable of a maximum speed of
475 km/h (295 mph), these machines were unable to cope with the difficult task
of resisting the invasion. They were too large to allow them to evade detection
by enemy defences, and their large aircrew requirement resulted in heavy losses
of personnel. In the first five days SM.79s performed 57 missions, at night
only, and failed to achieve any results, with the loss of seven aircraft.
Another three aircraft were lost on 16 July 1943 in a co-ordinated attack with
German forces on HMS Indomitable, which was hit and put out of combat for many
months.
Specifications (SM.79-III)
General characteristics
Crew: 6 (pilot, co-pilot, flight engineer/gunner, radio operator, bombardier,
rear gunner)
Length: 16.2 m (53 ft 2 in)
Wingspan: 20.2 m (66 ft 3 in)
Height: 4.1 m (13 ft 6 in)
Wing area: 61.7 m2 (664 ft2)
Empty weight: 7,700 kg (16,975 lb)
Loaded weight: 10,050 kg (25,132 lb)
Performance
Maximum speed: 460 km/h (286 mph) at 3,790 m (12,430 ft)
Range: 2,600 km (1,615 mi)
Service ceiling: 7,500 m (24,600 ft)
Rate of climb: 5.3 m/s (1,050 ft/min)
Wing loading: 165 kg/m2 (33.8 lb/ft2)
Power/mass: 0.173 kW/kg (0.106 hp/lb)
Armament
(The belly gun was optional).
Bombs: 1,200 kg (2,645 lb) internal bomb load or two external 450 millimetres
(17.72 in) torpedoes
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