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#Post#: 9367--------------------------------------------------
Plane of the Week: Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero
By: vonofterdingen Date: January 20, 2020, 2:28 pm
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I was watching an interesting show yesterday about George
Beurling. Much of the show dealt with his time in Malta, and
that got be thinking about out game and some of the Malta
campaigns I have flown in the past. And that, in turn, brought
me to the Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero. To me, this is the
iconic Italian bomber of WWII. I usually think of Italian
aircraft of the period as very beautiful and graceful looking.
That is not so much the case with the SM. 79. I think it is that
humpback look that throws me off. It looks like a design
afterthought. Nonetheless, when I think Italian bomber I think
of this plane. To some extent at least this is due to its long
service history: from the Spanish Civil War through the early
1950s.
From Wikipedia:
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 could be
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 SM.79 first saw combat during the Spanish Civil War; in this
theatre, it operated without fighter escorts, normally relying
on its relatively high speed to evade interception instead.
While some issues were identified, and in some cases resolved,
the SM.79's performance during the Spanish deployment was
encouraging and stimulated demand for the type, including a
decision to adopt it as the backbone of Italy's bomber units.
Both Yugoslavia and Romania opted to procure the type for their
own air services, while large numbers were also procured for the
Regia Aeronautica. Almost 600 SM.79-I and –II aircraft were in
service when Italy entered the Second World War during May 1940;
thereafter, these aircraft were deployed across every theatre of
war in which the Italians fought.
The SM.79 was operated in various different capacities during
the Second World War; initially, the type was used as a
transport aircraft and medium bomber. Following pioneering work
by the "Special Aerotorpedoes Unit", Italy put the type to work
as a torpedo bomber; in this role, the SM.79 achieved notable
successes against Allied shipping, particularly in the
Mediterranean theater. A specialised drone version of the
aircraft, flown by remote control was also developed, although
the Armistice with Italy was enacted prior to any operational
deployment. It was the most numerous Italian bomber of the
Second World War, around some 1,300 aircraft were constructed.
The type would remain in Italian service until 1952.
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Although Italy did not win the prestigious Schneider Trophy,
state support for aeronautical feats was maintained as one
element of Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini's long term
propaganda campaign to promote and win prestige for fascist
Italy and his government. Following a pair of initial successes,
further Sparvieros received specialised modifications for the
purpose of establishing new speed records. The SM.79 prototype
I-MAGO was modified to carry a payload of 6,100 kg (13,400 lb)
of bombs internally, which enabled it to attempt speed records
while carrying a payload; accordingly, on 23 September 1935, it
flew for 2,000 km (1,200 mi) with a 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) load at
an average speed of 389.61 km/h (242.09 mph), breaking six
separate world records in the process.
As on the prototype, the "hump" was not fitted to some of the
first production aircraft, these being transformed into
performance aircraft, designated as the SM.79CS. One of these
aircraft established further records during 1937; powered by an
arrangement of three Piaggio P.XI RC.40 engines (providing a
combined thrust of 2,237 kW (3,000 hp)), it averaged 423.618
km/h (263.224 mph) over 1,000 km (620 mi) with a 2,000 kg (4,400
lb) payload. This record then improved to 444.115 km/h (275.960
mph), while another SM.79 achieved 428.296 km/h (266.131 mph) in
the 2,000 km (1,200 mi)/ 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) category.
Unofficially, a speed of 472 km/h (293 mph) was later achieved
in the same category.
A group of five SM.79CSs went on to enter the
Paris-Damascus–Istres race, where I-CUPA, I-FILU and I-BIMU took
the first three positions, while the other two were placed sixth
and seventh, the latter of which was heavily damaged in
Damascus. A pair of Fiat BR.20s had also competed in the same
race, but were only able to achieve a joint sixth place (with a
SM.79) and an eighth place. Three of the SM.79CSs were modified
to increase their endurance, allowing them to traverse the
Atlantic Ocean and reach Brazil. On 24 January 1938, the three
aircraft took off; 11 hours later, they landed in Dakar,
Senegal, where they refueled before heading for Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil; on 25 January, two of the three arrived at 22:45 local
time. However, one of the aircraft has suffered a technical
fault, forcing the crew to land at Natal, Northeastern Brazil;
this SM.79 remained there for some time, and was eventually
donated to the Brazilian Air Force.
The SM.79 saw action for the first time when serving with the
Aviazione Legionaria, an Italian unit sent to assist Franco's
Nationalist forces during the Spanish Civil War. The Sparviero
started its operational service at the end of 1936 when 8°
Stormo B.T. (Bombardamento Tattico), with Gruppi XXVII° and
XXVIII°, under the command of Tenente Colonnello Riccardo Seidl,
was sent to Spain. Deployed to the Balearic Islands, the unit
was named "Falchi delle Baleari" (Balearic Falcons) and operated
over Catalonia and the main cities of eastern Spain, attacking
the Second Spanish Republic, killing 2,700 civilians and
injuring more than 7,000. During the three years of the civil
conflict, in excess of 100 SM.79s served as bombers for the
Aviazione Legionaira, of these, only four were recorded as being
lost in combat. Due to the experience gained in Spain the
SM.79-II, introduced during October 1939, went on to form the
backbone of the Italian bomber corps during the Second World
War.
By 4 November 1936, there were only six SM.79s with enough crew
to fly them operating in Spain. At the beginning of 1937, there
were 15 SM.79s in total, and they went on to be used in Spain
throughout the conflict, experiencing few losses throughout.
Around 19 SM.79s of what was dispatched to the Spanish theatre
were lost, while deliveries to 12 Wing and other units involved
in combat numbered at least 99 aircraft. The first recorded
interception of an SM.79 formation took place on 11 October 1937
when three aircraft were attacked by a formation of 12
Polikarpov I-16s. One of the SM.79s was damaged, but its
defensive armament prevented the fighters from performing
close-up attacks. All of the bombers successfully returned to
base, although one had been hit by 27 bullets, many of which
having struck fuel tanks. Several other interceptions occurred
during the conflict without any SM.79s being lost as a result.
On 26 April 1937, three SM.79 took part in the bombing of Basque
town of Guernica, carried out with the Nazi German Luftwaffe's
Condor Legion, at the behest of Francisco Franco's rebel
Nationalist faction. The bombing, under the code name 'Operation
Rügen', opened the way to Franco's capture of Bilbao and his
victory in northern Spain. Combat experience gained during the
war had revealed some deficiencies present in the SM.79: the
lack of oxygen masks for high altitude operation, relatively
high levels of instability, vibrations experienced at speeds
over 400 km/h (250 mph) and other problems were encountered and
sometimes solved. General Valle, in an attempt to answer some of
the criticisms about the ability of the aircraft to operate at
night, took off from Guidonia and bombed Barcelona, a journey of
six hours and 15 minutes. On this occasion, the aircraft proved
it had a useful range (around 1,000 km/620 mi with eight 100 kg
(220 lb) bombs, for a total gross weight of around 1,000 kg
(2,200 lb). SM.79s initially operated from the Balearic Islands
and later from mainland Spain. Hundreds of missions were
performed in a wide range of roles against Republican targets.
No Fiat CR.32s were required to escort the SM.79s, partly
because the biplane fighters were too slow to keep up with the
type.
The SM.79 began to lose its reputation for invulnerability when
RAF Gloster Gladiators and Hawker Hurricanes were encountered
over the fortress-island Malta, at the centre of the
Mediterranean, in June 1940. The first of many Sparvieros shot
down over Malta fell on 22 June. That day, Sparviero M.M.22068
of 216a Squadriglia, piloted by Tenente Francesco Solimene, took
off at 18.15 to reconnoitre intended bombing targets on the
island. Two Gladiators were scrambled, one piloted by Flt Lt
George Burges. Over Sliema and Valletta Burges attacked the
Sparviero from superior height, shooting off the port engine.
The SM.79 caught fire and crashed in the sea off Kalafrana. The
pilot, Solimene, and1° Aviere Armiere Torrisi were rescued from
the sea, but the other four crew members were lost.
A Sparviero had the dubious honour of being the first aircraft
to fall on Maltese soil during the Second World War: on 10 July
1940, an estimated twenty SM.79s without escort arrived to bomb
the dockyard, Manoel Island, Tarxien and Żabbar. They were
attacked by British Gladiators; during the ensuing engagement,
one bomber, piloted by Sottotenente Felice Filippi from 195a
Squadriglia, 90° Gruppo, 30° Stormo Bombardamento Terrestre,
came down in flames just behind the Knight's watchtower east of
Fort San Leonardo. The air victory was credited to Flying
Officer Frederick Taylor. At least one Italian bailed out, but
his parachute was on fire and he did not survive.
Throughout the conflict, SM.79s were 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, the
anti-aircraft ship HMS Pozarica on 29 January 1943.
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.
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In game…
This is not a plane I fly often, but then I rarely fly medium or
heavy bombers at all. Most of my encounters with the Sparviero
have been from within a fighter either attacking or escorting in
Spanish Civil War or Mediterranean theaters. I have always been
fond of Malta missions in both escort and pursuit roles, both
due to the location in general and the short time to action. The
Sparviero is also great for Mediterranean missions because it
can be used as level bomber or torpedo bomber.[/font]
#Post#: 9369--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero
By: Beowolff Date: January 20, 2020, 4:24 pm
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Superb article of a little known and little understood plane.
;D To be honest I think I've flown it 'maybe' once or twice in
missions. (very sad for me to admit that!) g'ah!)
Now that you've reminded me of it, I simply MUST do better with
this old, odd-looking warhorse!
Thank you! ;)
Beo
#Post#: 9373--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero
By: cafs Date: January 20, 2020, 4:37 pm
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The workhorse Italian bomber throughout WW2. With the long-range
torpedo-bomber variant it gave a lot of headache for the Royal
Navy convoys, but with the pure medium bomber variant it was
easy meat for any Commonwealth fighter pilot, much like the far
more modern Cant Z.1007 bis.
Great read, Von.
#Post#: 9375--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero
By: larsresult Date: January 20, 2020, 4:55 pm
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One of the most successful torpedo bombers of WW2, although
losses were heavy. The Italian crews, who thought highly of this
aircraft, trained the Germans in 1940/41 when they arrived in
the Med and wanted to use the Fiume torpedoes. Osprey published
two detailed books on the bomber and the torpedo bomber units
recently. The Italian nation revered them and their crews in the
way the Brits revered the Spitfire, the Russians revered the
Il2, the Americans the P51, and the Japanese the Zero.
Surprisingly the S79 was not used in Russia by the Regia
Aeronautica but did serve with the Romanian AF in both two and
three engine versions in that theatre.
A good choice for POTW.
In game I have found it tough to shoot down unless you have
multiple cannon and it is quite manoeuvrable as in RL.
#Post#: 9377--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero
By: larsresult Date: January 20, 2020, 5:00 pm
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Incidentally, you might like to get hold of the Ali d'Italia
(Italian wings) series of books on WW2 Italian aircraft. They
are very detailed on all aspects, including technical drawings,
equipment, units and operations, and so on. There are two
volumes on the S79 alone. All volumes are in English and
Italian.
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