Difference between revisions of "S.M.79 serie 4 (Germany)"

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{{Specs-Card|code=sm_79_1937}}
+
{{About
{{Notice|''This page is about the aircraft '''{{PAGENAME}}'''. For other uses, see [[S.M.79_(Disambiguation)|S.M.79 (Disambiguation)]]''}}
+
|about= gift bomber '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
 +
|usage= other versions
 +
|link= S.M.79 (Family)
 +
}}
 +
{{Specs-Card
 +
|code=sm_79_1937
 +
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
 +
}}
 +
 
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
''In the description, the first part needs to be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''
+
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
 +
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a gift rank {{Specs|rank}} German bomber {{Battle-rating}}. Though initially in the game pre-1.27, this plane was removed upon [[Update 1.37]] due to redundancy.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
=== Flight Performance ===
+
=== Flight performance ===
''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Maximum speed, maneuverability, speed and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''
+
{{Specs-Avia-Flight}}
 +
<!-- ''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.'' -->
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
 +
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
 +
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 4,000 m)
 +
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(metres)
 +
! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds)
 +
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(metres/second)
 +
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run<br>(metres)
 +
|-
 +
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
 +
|-
 +
! Stock
 +
| 416 || 403 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 32.6 || 33.6 || 4.5 || 4.4 || rowspan="2" | 450
 +
|-
 +
! Upgraded
 +
| 444 || 430 || 30.8 || 31.6 || 7.4 || 5.9
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
==== Details ====
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="5" | Features
 +
|-
 +
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear
 +
|-
 +
| ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || X || X    <!-- ✓ -->
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="7" | Limits
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)
 +
! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)
 +
! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)
 +
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
 +
|-
 +
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
 +
|-
 +
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 313 || 298 || 220 || ~4 || ~2
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
 +
|-
 +
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
 +
|-
 +
| < 260 || < 270 || < 270 || > 290
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured. Describe the armour, if there is any, also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.''
+
{{Specs-Avia-Armour}}
 +
<!-- ''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.'' -->
 +
 
 +
* No armour protection
 +
* Self-sealing fuel tanks (1 below dorsal gunner, 4 in each wing)
 +
 
 +
=== Modifications and economy ===
 +
{{Specs-Economy}}
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 +
{{Specs-Avia-Armaments}}
 
=== Offensive armament ===
 
=== Offensive armament ===
''Describe the offensive armament of the aircraft, if any. Describe how effective the cannons and machine guns are in a battle, and also what belts or drums are better to use. If there is no offensive weaponry, delete this subsection.''
+
{{Specs-Avia-Offensive}}
 +
<!-- ''Describe the offensive armament of the aircraft, if any. Describe how effective the cannons and machine guns are in a battle, and also what belts or drums are better to use. If there is no offensive weaponry, delete this subsection.'' -->
 +
{{main|Breda-SAFAT (12.7 mm)}}
 +
 
 +
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:
 +
 
 +
* 1 x 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun, dorsal-mounted (350 rpg)
  
 
=== Suspended armament ===
 
=== Suspended armament ===
''Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.''
+
{{Specs-Avia-Suspended}}
 +
<!-- ''Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.'' -->
 +
{{main|GP 50 (50 kg)|GP 100T (100 kg)|GP 250 (250 kg)|GP 500 (500 kg)}}
 +
 
 +
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' 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)
 +
* 2 x 500 kg GP 500 bombs (1,000 kg total)
  
 
=== Defensive armament ===
 
=== Defensive armament ===
''Defensive armament with turret machine guns or cannons, crewed by gunners. Examine the number of gunners and what belts or drums are better to use. If defensive weaponry is not available remove this subsection.''
+
{{Specs-Avia-Defensive}}
 +
<!-- ''Defensive armament with turret machine guns or cannons, crewed by gunners. Examine the number of gunners and what belts or drums are better to use. If defensive weaponry is not available, remove this subsection.'' -->
 +
{{main|Breda-SAFAT (12.7 mm)|Lewis (7.7 mm)}}
 +
 
 +
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' 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 ==
 +
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
 +
 
 +
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.
  
== Usage in the battles ==
+
=== Manual Engine Control ===
''Describe the tactics of playing in an aircraft, the features of using vehicles in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="7" | MEC elements
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="2" | Mixer
 +
! rowspan="2" | Pitch
 +
! colspan="3" | Radiator
 +
! rowspan="2" | Supercharger
 +
! rowspan="2" | Turbocharger
 +
|-
 +
! Oil !! Water !! Type
 +
|-
 +
| Not controllable || Controllable<br>Not auto controlled || Not controllable<br>Not auto controlled || Not controllable<br>Not auto controlled || Separate || Not controllable<br>1 gear || Not controllable
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Do not use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''
+
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''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:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
*
+
 
 +
* Poor total bomb load
 +
* 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 ==
 
== History ==
''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ historical reference" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.''
+
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 +
 
 +
{{break}}
 +
{{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}|expand=true}}
 +
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
 +
Three-engine SIAI Savoia-Marchetti S.M.79 "Sparviero" medium bomber, second series, issued 1937.
 +
 
 +
Beginning with the 2nd production series, the S.M.79's dorsal "hump" was shortened (previously it had reached almost to the front door), and the teardrop-shaped fairings were removed. On each side of the hump, a couple of windows were added to better illuminate the radio operator's and mechanic's workspaces. The bomber's gondola located under the fuselage was elongated, the engine's exhaust pipes were twisted to direct them away from the engine nacelles, and additional extensions were added to the stabilizer fin.
 +
 
 +
The side-switching 7.7 mm Lewis machine gun from the World War I period, which had been installed inside the fuselage on a mobile track, was replaced by two fixed 7.7 mm Breda SAFAT machine guns, though before the war S.M.79s usually flew without onboard guns.
 +
 
 +
In this form, without virtually any changes, the S.M.79 underwent mass production and was delivered to Regia Aeronautica (Italian Royal Air Force) combat units for about seven years.
 +
 
 +
As a modification of a passenger aircraft, the S.M.79 had many related flaws: inconvenient bomb sight positioning, a relatively small bomb bay in a rather large fuselage, and primitive defensive weapons installed in half-open units with no mechanization. All of this understandably drew criticism from the Regia Aeronautica.
 +
 
 +
But there was no other choice, and in February 1937, during the Spanish Civil War, the S.M.79 saw its first combat.
 +
 
 +
S.M.79s with Italian crews and Spanish insignia operated around Seville and Bilbao, participating in the battles of Brunete and Teruel. The S.M.79's speed allowed it to fly long-range daytime operations without escort. Of all the Republican fighters, only the I-16 could successfully intercept the S.M.79, and not many I-16s were available. Therefore, the bomber's losses were relatively small. Combat experience showed that the plane's survivability was high. Franco only lost 4 S.M.79s during the entire war. The Italians lost 12.
 +
 
 +
Beginning in January 1938, the S.M.79 was used as a night bomber. The "Sparviero" played an increasingly bigger role as the civil war progressed. After the war, the surviving Italian S.M.79s were transferred into Franco's Air Force. There they survived World War II, and the last of them were used in the Spanish colonies in North Africa until the early 1960s. In 1943, one "Sparviero" was converted by the Spanish company AISA into a staff plane, used to command the Spanish army.
 +
{{Navigation-End}}
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
+
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
  
== Read also ==
+
;Skins
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,''
+
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=sm_79_1937 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
 +
 
 +
== See also ==
 +
<!--''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 
* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
+
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''-->
''ETC.''
 
  
== Sources ==
+
;Related development
 +
*[[S.M.79 (Family)]]
 +
 
 +
== External links ==
 
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''page on aircraft encyclopedia;''
 
 
* ''other literature.''
 
* ''other literature.''
 +
 +
{{AirManufacturer SM}}
 +
{{Germany bombers}}
 +
[[Category:Hidden vehicles]]

Latest revision as of 14:48, 5 July 2024

RANK 5 FRANCE
Somua SM PACK
This page is about the gift bomber S.M.79 serie 4 (Germany). For other versions, see S.M.79 (Family).
▀S.M.79 serie 4
sm_79_1937.png
GarageImage S.M.79 serie 4 (Germany).jpg
▀S.M.79 serie 4
Show in game

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

Max speed
at 4 000 m430 km/h
Turn time31 s
Max altitude6 800 m
Engine3 х Alfa Romeo 126 RC 34
TypeRadial
Cooling systemAir
Take-off weight11 t
Characteristics Max Speed
(km/h at 4,000 m)
Max altitude
(metres)
Turn time
(seconds)
Rate of climb
(metres/second)
Take-off run
(metres)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
Stock 416 403 6800 32.6 33.6 4.5 4.4 450
Upgraded 444 430 30.8 31.6 7.4 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 > 290

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
AB869 → 1 177 Sl icon.png
RB1 341 → 1 817 Sl icon.png
SB1 979 → 2 681 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications10 400 Rp icon.png
13 780 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost750 Ge icon.png
Crew training6 300 Sl icon.png
Experts22 000 Sl icon.png
Aces250 Ge icon.png
Research Aces220 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
60 / 130 / 260 % Sl icon.png
124 / 124 / 124 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
Mods aerodinamic fuse.png
Fuselage repair
Research:
520 Rp icon.png
Cost:
690 Sl icon.png
100 Ge icon.png
Mods radiator.png
Radiator
Research:
520 Rp icon.png
Cost:
690 Sl icon.png
100 Ge icon.png
Mods armor frame.png
Airframe
Research:
580 Rp icon.png
Cost:
770 Sl icon.png
115 Ge icon.png
Mods compressor.png
Compressor
Research:
580 Rp icon.png
Cost:
770 Sl icon.png
115 Ge icon.png
Mods aerodinamic wing.png
Wings repair
Research:
650 Rp icon.png
Cost:
860 Sl icon.png
130 Ge icon.png
Mods new engine.png
Engine
Research:
650 Rp icon.png
Cost:
860 Sl icon.png
130 Ge icon.png
Mods armor cover.png
Cover
Research:
680 Rp icon.png
Cost:
900 Sl icon.png
135 Ge icon.png
Mods engine extinguisher.png
EFS
Research:
680 Rp icon.png
Cost:
900 Sl icon.png
135 Ge icon.png
Mods ammo.png
safat12_belt_pack
Research:
520 Rp icon.png
Cost:
690 Sl icon.png
100 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
GP100
Research:
520 Rp icon.png
Cost:
690 Sl icon.png
100 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 1.png
Mods weapon.png
safat12_new_gun
Research:
580 Rp icon.png
Cost:
770 Sl icon.png
115 Ge icon.png
Mods ammo.png
bmg303_turret_belt_pack
Research:
580 Rp icon.png
Cost:
770 Sl icon.png
115 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 1.png
Mods ammo.png
safat12_turret_belt_pack
Research:
650 Rp icon.png
Cost:
860 Sl icon.png
130 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
GP250
Research:
650 Rp icon.png
Cost:
860 Sl icon.png
130 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods turret gun.png
safat12_turret_new_gun
Research:
680 Rp icon.png
Cost:
900 Sl icon.png
135 Ge icon.png
Mods turret gun.png
lewis_turret_new_gun
Research:
680 Rp icon.png
Cost:
900 Sl icon.png
135 Ge icon.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
GP500
Research:
680 Rp icon.png
Cost:
900 Sl icon.png
135 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Offensive armament

Ammunition350 rounds
Fire rate700 shots/min
Main article: Breda-SAFAT (12.7 mm)

The S.M.79 serie 4 (Germany) is armed with:

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

Suspended armament

List of setups (4)
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 42 x 500 kg GP 500 bomb

The S.M.79 serie 4 (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)
  • 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 serie 4 (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
  • 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.79 "Sparviero" medium bomber, second series, issued 1937.

Beginning with the 2nd production series, the S.M.79's dorsal "hump" was shortened (previously it had reached almost to the front door), and the teardrop-shaped fairings were removed. On each side of the hump, a couple of windows were added to better illuminate the radio operator's and mechanic's workspaces. The bomber's gondola located under the fuselage was elongated, the engine's exhaust pipes were twisted to direct them away from the engine nacelles, and additional extensions were added to the stabilizer fin.

The side-switching 7.7 mm Lewis machine gun from the World War I period, which had been installed inside the fuselage on a mobile track, was replaced by two fixed 7.7 mm Breda SAFAT machine guns, though before the war S.M.79s usually flew without onboard guns.

In this form, without virtually any changes, the S.M.79 underwent mass production and was delivered to Regia Aeronautica (Italian Royal Air Force) combat units for about seven years.

As a modification of a passenger aircraft, the S.M.79 had many related flaws: inconvenient bomb sight positioning, a relatively small bomb bay in a rather large fuselage, and primitive defensive weapons installed in half-open units with no mechanization. All of this understandably drew criticism from the Regia Aeronautica.

But there was no other choice, and in February 1937, during the Spanish Civil War, the S.M.79 saw its first combat.

S.M.79s with Italian crews and Spanish insignia operated around Seville and Bilbao, participating in the battles of Brunete and Teruel. The S.M.79's speed allowed it to fly long-range daytime operations without escort. Of all the Republican fighters, only the I-16 could successfully intercept the S.M.79, and not many I-16s were available. Therefore, the bomber's losses were relatively small. Combat experience showed that the plane's survivability was high. Franco only lost 4 S.M.79s during the entire war. The Italians lost 12.

Beginning in January 1938, the S.M.79 was used as a night bomber. The "Sparviero" played an increasingly bigger role as the civil war progressed. After the war, the surviving Italian S.M.79s were transferred into Franco's Air Force. There they survived World War II, and the last of them were used in the Spanish colonies in North Africa until the early 1960s. In 1943, one "Sparviero" was converted by the Spanish company AISA into a staff plane, used to command the Spanish army.


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External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

  • topic on the official game forum;
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Savoia-Marchetti
Bombers  S.M.79 serie 1 · S.M.79 serie 8 · S.M.79 AS · S.M.79 bis/T.M
  S.81
Attackers  SM.91 · SM.92
Export  S.M.79 B
Captured  ▀S.M.79 serie 1 · ▀S.M.79 serie 4 · ▀S.M.79 serie 8
  ▀S.M.79 AS · ▀S.M.79 bis/N · ▀S.M.79 bis/T.M · ▀S.M.79 B

Germany bombers
Arado  Ar 196 A-3
Blohm & Voss  BV 138 C-1 · BV 238
Dornier  Do 17 E-1 · Do 17 Z-2 · Do 217 E-2 · Do 217 E-4 · Do 217 K-1 · Do 217 M-1
Focke-Wulf  Fw 189 A-1 · Fw 200 C-1
Henschel  Hs 123 A-1
Heinkel  He 111 H-3 · He 111 H-6 · He 111 H-16 · He 115 C-1 · He 177 A-3 · He 177 A-5
Junkers  Ju 87 B-2 · Ju 87 R-2 · Ju 87 R-2 Libya · Ju 87 D-3 · Ju 87 D-5 · Ju 88 A-1 · Ju 88 A-4 · Ju 188 A-2 · Ju 288 C
Messerschmitt  Me 264
Savoia-Marchetti  ▀S.M.79 serie 1 · ▀S.M.79 B · ▀S.M.79 serie 4 · ▀S.M.79 serie 8
  ▀S.M.79 AS · ▀S.M.79 bis/N · ▀S.M.79 bis/T.M
Trophies  ▀Wellington Mk Ic