S.M.79 bis/N (Germany)

This page is about the gift bomber S.M.79 bis/N (Germany). For other versions, see S.M.79 (Family).

▀S.M.79 bis/N

▀S.M.79 bis/N

Germany

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
2.7	2.3	2.3

Class:

Bomber

Frontline bomber

Torpedo bomber

Purchase:Bundle or Gift

Show in game

Description

The ▀S.M.79 Sparviero bis/N (1942) is a gift rank II German bomber with a battle rating of 2.7 (AB) and 2.3 (RB/SB). Though initially in the game pre-1.27, this plane was removed upon Update 1.37 due to redundancy.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed

at 3 800 m457 km/h

Turn time33 s

Max altitude8 500 m

Engine3 х Alfa Romeo 128 RC.18

TypeRadial

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight11 t

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 3,800 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	438	421	8500	34.0	34.7	3.2	3.2	410
Upgraded	484	457		32.1	33.0	9.3	5.9

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
✓	✓	✓	X	X

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
530	300	313	298	220	~4	~2

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 260	< 270	< 270	> 310

Survivability and armour

Crew5 people

Speed of destruction

Structural530 km/h

Gear300 km/h

• No armour protection
• Self-sealing fuel tanks (1 below dorsal gunner, 4 in each wing)

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB823 → 1 135

RB1 317 → 1 817

SB1 944 → 2 682

Total cost of modifications10 390

13 740

Talisman cost750

Crew training6 300

Experts22 000

Aces250

Research Aces220 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

60 / 130 / 260 %

124 / 124 / 124 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 520 Cost: 690 115 Radiator Research: 520 Cost: 690 115 Airframe Research: 470 Cost: 620 105 Compressor Research: 470 Cost: 620 105 Wings repair Research: 650 Cost: 860 145 Engine Research: 650 Cost: 860 145 Cover Research: 560 Cost: 740 125 Engine injection Research: 560 Cost: 740 125	EFS Research: 560 Cost: 740 125	safat12_belt_pack Research: 520 Cost: 690 115 GP100 Research: 520 Cost: 690 115 safat12_new_gun Research: 470 Cost: 620 105 bmg303_turret_belt_pack Research: 470 Cost: 620 105 GP250 Research: 470 Cost: 620 105 safat12_turret_belt_pack Research: 650 Cost: 860 145 TBC-79 Research: 650 Cost: 860 145 safat12_turret_new_gun Research: 560 Cost: 740 125 lewis_turret_new_gun Research: 560 Cost: 740 125 GP500 Research: 560 Cost: 740 125

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 112.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun

Ammunition350 rounds

Fire rate700 shots/min

The S.M.79 bis/N (Germany) is armed with:

• 1 x 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun, dorsal-mounted (350 rpg)

Suspended armament

List of setups (5)

Setup 112 x 50 kg GP 50 bomb

Setup 212 x 100 kg GP 100T bomb

Setup 35 x 250 kg GP 250 bomb

Setup 41 x 450 mm F200/450 torpedo

Setup 52 x 500 kg GP 500 bomb

The S.M.79 bis/N (Germany) can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• 12 x 50 kg GP 50 bombs (600 kg total)
• 12 x 100 kg GP 100T bombs (1,200 kg total)
• 5 x 250 kg GP 250 bombs (1,250 kg total)
• 1 x 450 mm F200/450 torpedo
• 2 x 500 kg GP 500 bombs (1,000 kg total)

Defensive armament

2 х Turret12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun

Ammunition500 rounds

Fire rate701 shots/min

2 х Turret7.7 mm Lewis machine gun

Ammunition485 rounds

Fire rate551 shots/min

The S.M.79 bis/N (Germany) is defended by:

• 1 x 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun, dorsal turret (500 rpg)
• 1 x 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun, ventral turret (500 rpg)
• 1 x 7.7 mm Lewis machine gun, 2 x beam turrets (485 rpg)

Usage in battles

Due to its relatively low battle rating, the three-engined S.M.79 enjoys a relatively high speed for a bomber against most of the lower ranked opposition it faces. This aids its survivability, particularly in a shallow dive. Unfortunately, it is rather lacking in bombload options compared to the He 111s and Ju 88s and also has rather poor defensive fire arcs. Unlike the German bombers, however, it is armed with 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns which can pack quite a punch against the flimsier aircraft it faces. The pilot also controls a fixed forward-firing 12.7 mm Breda, which is otherwise uncovered by any defensive armament. This gun can be useful for strafing light vehicles and trucks that will be encountered frequently in low-rank battles and can be used to shoot down other aircraft. It is somewhat more manoeuvrable than the He 111 H-3, but the Sparviero is by no means a fighter and will rapidly lose energy in turns. With the ability to carry 500 kg bombs, the S.M.79 can use these to more easily take out pillboxes and heavier tanks, although this reduces the total bombload to only 1,000 kg as opposed to 1,250 kg with 250 kg bombs.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Not controllable	Controllable Not auto controlled	Not controllable Not auto controlled	Not controllable Not auto controlled	Separate	Not controllable 1 gear	Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Hard-hitting 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT defensive machine guns
• Pilot-controlled fixed forward-firing 12.7 mm Breda, which can be equipped with IAI (explosive) ammunition
• High speed
• Middle engine provides some level of protection for the pilot against head-on attacks
• Capable of carrying 500 kg bombs, unlike the He 111 H-3 or Do 17 Z-1

Cons:

• Poor total bomb load compared to the He 111 H-3 (1,250 kg max)
• Poor defensive fire arcs, including a dead zone in the rear where neither of the rearward facing 12.7 mm machine guns can cover
• No frontal defensive gun covering the frontal aspect
• Lacks armour protection for the crew
• Forced to choose between less total bomb load but individually more powerful bombs or higher total bomb load with less powerful bombs

History

Archive of the in-game description

Three-engine SIAI Savoia-Marchetti S.M.79bis "Sparviero" medium torpedo bomber, issued 1942. In 1941, the S.M.79 "Sparviero" began to be replaced by the new S.84 torpedo bomber. But the S.84's engine, the Piaggio P.XI, was so unreliable that in 1942 groups which had switched to the new plane returned to the S.M.79. The S.M.79 was independently modified in several ways, which slightly improved the aircraft's flight characteristics. For example, one "Sparviero" had its engine mount elongated, which improved the aircraft's aerodynamics and thus increased its speed. Savoia-Marchetti designers proposed upgrading the outdated S.M.79 by replacing its mixed design with an all-metal airframe. This would substantially reduce the aircraft's weight while increasing the strength of its airframe. But the Royal Italian Air Force chose a compromise, instead: change the power unit, but keep the S.M.79's old airframe. The resulting variant was named the S.M.79bis. The S.M.79bis was powered by three 9-cylinder radial air-cooled Alfa-Romeo 128RC18 engines with 860 hp and a metal three-bladed variable-pitch SIAI.32 propeller. The new engine could not perform as well at high altitudes as the older Alfa-Romeo 126RC34, and so it was more suited for low-flying torpedo bombers. Increasing the engine's power slightly increased the aircraft's maximum and cruise speeds. The alcohol injection system, developed for the engine Alfa-Romeo 126RC34, was retained. The ventral gondola, along with the machine gun mounted inside, was unnecessary for a torpedo bomber and was removed. When attacking, the torpedo bomber would fly just over the crests of the waves. The empty bomb bay held an extra 1,000-litre fuel tank (a 2,300-litre option was also available). The plane's radio equipment and instruments were upgraded, as well. The S.M.79bis was chosen to be the standard torpedo bomber, and previously released planes were converted into the new variant. Of the first S.M.79bis planes built, a special unit was formed to attack British ships in Gibraltar during "Operazione Scoglio" (Operation "The Rock"). However, while preparing the attack, it was discovered that the fuel consumption rating of the S.M.79bis engine was overstated, and the planes would not be able to fly the mission to Gibraltar from the intended starting point of Istria (in the South of France). Only two of the most experienced crews tried to fly the mission on June 19, 1943, but only one returned; the second landed in Spain, out of fuel. On June 24 the whole group carried out a raid on Oran in Algeria.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the S.M.79 bis/N (Germany) from live.warthunder.com.

See also

Related development

• S.M.79 (Family)

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• other literature.