Savoia-Marchetti SM.79

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 developed and manufactured by aviation
company Savoia-Marchetti. It has been often regarded as being the best-known
Italian aeroplane of the Second World War. The SM.79 was easily recognizable due
to its distinctive fuselage dorsal "hump", and was reportedly well liked by its
crews, who nicknamed it il gobbo maledetto ("damned hunchback").

The SM.79 had been originally developed during the early 1930s as a cantilever
low-wing monoplane employing a combined wood-and-metal structure. It had been
designed with the initial intention of producing a swift eight-passenger
transport aircraft, capable of besting even the fastest of its contemporaries at
that time, however, the project quickly attracted the attention of the Italian
government for its potential as an armed combat aircraft. Performing its first
flight on 28 September 1934; between 1937 and 1939, early examples of the type
established 26 separate world records, qualifying it for some time as being the
fastest medium bomber in the world. As such, the SM.79 quickly became regarded
as an item of national prestige in Fascist Italy, attracting significant
government support and often being deployed as an element of state propaganda.
Early on, the aircraft was routinely entered into competitive fly-offs and air
races, seeking to capitalise on its advantages, and often emerged victorious in
such contests.

The effective torpedo bombing range was stated to fall between 500 and 1,000 m
(1,600 and 3,300 ft) from the target. During combat operations, SM.79s would
often fly at low level above hostile vessels prior to the aerial torpedo being
launched from the aircraft; as such, they were frequently targeted by every
weapon available, from infantry small arms to heavy artillery, in a last ditch
effort to prevent the torpedoes from being deployed. The Sparviero had several
advantages compared to British torpedo bombers, including a higher top speed and
greater range. Soon however, the Sparviero faced the Hawker Hurricane and the
Fairey Fulmar, which was faster but still quite slow in relation to other escort
fighters. Bristol Beaufighters were fast and well-armed, and as well as being
effective long-range day fighters, were successful night interceptors and late
in the war often chased Sparvieros in night missions. Curtiss P-40s, Lockheed
P-38 Lightnings, Grumman Martlets and Supermarine Spitfires served in the
Mediterranean to hinder Sparviero operations during the day.


Role
Medium bomber, torpedo bomber

Manufacturer
Savoia-Marchetti

First flight
28 September 1934

Introduction
1936

Retired
1952 (Italy)
1959 (Lebanon)

Status
Out of service

Primary users
Regia Aeronautica
Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana
Fortele Aeriene Regale ale României
Spanish Air Force

Produced
1936–1945

Number built
1,240

Throughout the conflict, multiple SM.79s had been credited with the sinking of a
number of Allied warships, including the destroyer HMS Fearless on 23 July 1941,
the destroyer HMS Bedouin on 15 June 1942, the destroyer HMAS Nestor on 16 June
1942, the destroyer HMS Foresight on 13 August 1942, the sloop HMS Ibis on 10
November 1942, the corvette HMS Marigold on 9 December 1942.

Additionally, several more Allied warships were torpedoed and suffered serious
damage as a result of attacks by the SM.79s. These included the heavy cruiser
HMS Kent on 18 September 1940, the light cruiser HMS Liverpool twice, on 8
October 1940 and on 14 June 1942, the light cruiser HMS Glasgow on 7 December
1940, the light cruiser HMS Manchester on 23 July 1941, the light cruiser HMS
Phoebe on 27 August 1941, the battleship HMS Nelson on 23 September 1941, the
light cruiser HMS Arethusa on 18 November 1942, and the aircraft carrier HMS
Indomitable on 16 July 1943.

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)
Powerplant: 3 × Alfa 128 R.C.18 radial engines, 642 kW (860 hp) each

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

Guns: 1 × 20 mm (0.79 in) forward MG 151 cannon
2 × 12.7 mm (0.5 in) dorsal Breda-SAFAT machine gun 1 at the top, 1 in the belly
(The belly gun was optional).
2 × 7.7 mm (0.303 in) machine guns in lateral "waist-gun" ports (optional)

Bombs: 1,200 kg (2,645 lb) internal bomb load or two external 450 millimetres
(17.72 in) torpedoes




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