S.M.79 serie 4 (Germany)

▀S.M.79 serie 4

▀S.M.79 serie 4

Germany

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
2.3	2.3	2.3

Class:

Bomber

Frontline bomber

Purchase:Bundle or Gift

Show in game

This page is about the gift German aircraft S.M.79 serie 4 (Germany). For other uses, see S.M.79 (Family).

Description

The ▀S.M.79 Sparviero serie 4 (1937) is a gift rank II German bomber with a battle rating of 2.3 (AB/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

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Survivability and armour

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Armaments

Offensive armament

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

Suspended armament

• 12 x 50 kg GP 50 bombs
• 12 x 100 kg GP 100 bombs
• 5 x 250 kg GP 250 bombs
• 2 x 500 kg GP 500 bombs

Defensive armament

• 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 turret (485 RPG = 970 total)

Usage in battles

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Pros and cons

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Pros:

Cons:

History

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In-game description

"Three-engine SIAI Savoia-Marchetti SM.79bis “Sparviero” medium torpedo bomber, issued 1942.

In 1941, the SM.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 SM.79.

The SM.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Savoia-Marchetti designers proposed upgrading the outdated SM.79 by replacing its mixed design with an all-metal airframe.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 SM.79’s old airframe. The resulting variant was named the SM.79bis.

The SM.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 1000-litre fuel tank (a 2300-litre option was also available). The plane’s radio equipment and instruments were upgraded, as well.

The SM.79bis was chosen to be the standard torpedo bomber, and previously released planes were converted into the new variant.

Of the first SM.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 SM.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

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See also

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• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

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• topic on the official game forum;
• encyclopedia page on the aircraft;
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