S.M.79 bis/T.M

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

S.M.79 bis/T.M

S.M.79 AS

S.M.79 B

S.M.79 bis/T.M

S.M.79 AS

S.M.79 B

Italy

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
2.3	2.3	2.3

Class:

Bomber

Frontline bomber

Torpedo bomber

Research:5 600

Purchase:22 000

Show in game

Description

The S.M.79 Sparviero bis/T.M (1943) is a rank II Italian bomber with a battle rating of 2.3 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica" along with the initial Italian aircraft tree.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed

at 4 000 m430 km/h

Turn time31 s

Max altitude6 800 m

Engine3 х Alfa Romeo 128 RC.18

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	411	395	6800	32.6	33.3	3.2	3.2	450
Upgraded	457	430		30.7	31.6	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

• 12 mm steel - behind pilots
• 6 mm steel - sides of pilots
• 9 mm steel - behind dorsal gunner
• 6 mm steel - right side of dorsal gunner
• 6 mm steel - in front of lateral gunners

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB835 → 1 139

RB1 330 → 1 815

SB1 963 → 2 679

Total cost of modifications10 400

13 780

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: 690 100 Radiator Research: 520 Cost: 690 100 Airframe Research: 580 Cost: 770 115 Compressor Research: 580 Cost: 770 115 Wings repair Research: 650 Cost: 860 130 Engine Research: 650 Cost: 860 130 Cover Research: 680 Cost: 900 135 Engine injection Research: 680 Cost: 900 135	EFS Research: 680 Cost: 900 135	safat12_belt_pack Research: 520 Cost: 690 100 GP100 Research: 520 Cost: 690 100 safat12_new_gun Research: 580 Cost: 770 115 GP250 Research: 580 Cost: 770 115 safat12_turret_belt_pack Research: 650 Cost: 860 130 TBC-79 Research: 650 Cost: 860 130 safat12_turret_new_gun Research: 680 Cost: 900 135 GP500 Research: 680 Cost: 900 135

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 112.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun

Ammunition350 rounds

Fire rate700 shots/min

The S.M.79 bis/T.M is armed with:

• 1 x 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun, forehead-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/T.M can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• 12 x 50 kg GP 50 bombs (600 kg total)
• 12 x 100 kg GP 100 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

Turret12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun

Ammunition500 rounds

Fire rate701 shots/min

2 х Turret12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun

Ammunition350 rounds

Fire rate701 shots/min

The S.M.79 bis/T.M 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, 2 x beam turrets (350 rpg)

Usage in battles

RB/SB mode

Air Mode

The SM.79Bis/T.M. is a mediocre bomber at its BR, at the beginning of the battle go up to 3,000-4,500 m, and go to destroy enemy bases, because whenever enemy fighters or other aircraft attack you, use your gunners to kill enemy aircraft, use the universal turret belt because it contains 2 API-T and 2 AP-I per belt. AP-I and API-T ammunition are perfect for killing enemy planes because they can knock out the enemy pilot or set fire to enemy planes. When you are close to the enemy base, use your bomber sight to drop your bombs and afterwards go back to the airfield to reload your bombs.

Ground Mode

You can use the SM.79Bis/T.M. in ground mode, use the following payloads: 5x 250kg (Mod.28) or 2x 500kg (Type 28). After spawning with the SM.79Bis/T.M., stay at an altitude of 900-1,500m and use your scope to drop your bombs more accurately. Your bombs are very good, so if your bombs get close to enemy medium and heavy tanks, they can be destroyed very easily.

Naval mode

SM.79Bis/T.M. in its arsenal can also use a 450mm torpedo (F200/450) in addition to bombs, the torpedo is mediocre so you have to be below 301 km/h and a height less than 120mm to use it, against ships it is very good because it has 200 kg of explosive.

AB mode

Like any bomber in Arcade Battles, they are the first to be destroyed, go up to 4,000m-5,000m and stay at that altitude and drop your bombs on enemy bases but remember you can be destroyed very easily by enemy planes so be careful and check around you for incoming enemy planes.

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:

• All defensive machine guns are 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT.
• Pilot-controlled fixed forward-firing 12.7 mm Breda, which can be equipped with IAI (explosive) ammunition.
• Middle engine provides some level of protection for the pilot against head-on attacks.
• Decent armour protection.

Cons:

• Very limited bomb payload.
• Poor defensive fire arcs, especially vulnerable to attacks from behind and below.
• No frontal defensive gun covering the frontal aspect.
• Forced to choose between less total bomb payload, but individually more powerful bombs or higher total bomb payload with less powerful bombs.
• Fewer defensive machine guns than other "Sparvieros".
• Worst speed and flight capabilities than the previous model.

History

Alessandro Marchettí was famous for creating record breaking and Schneider Trophy winning racing seaplanes, and was the Savoia (aka SIAI, Società Idrovolanti Alta Italia). In 1922 Marchettí joined Savoia to form one of the great aircraft companies in history, until merged in 1983.   After the conclusion of the Schneider Trophy race (won by UK), the firm used its experience to build fast aircraft for civilian and military use.

You probably saw the very similar looking Italian SM.81 in game, which was a militarized version of the successful S.73.  The SM.79 was new passenger version based on the planform of its predecessor; the most obvious difference was retractable landing gear.  It was truly made first as a passenger version to compete with those being made by other countries.  Needless to say, it immediately attracted attention of the Regina Italia and a bomber version was developed in parallel.  For a few brief months it was considered the best transport and bomber in world and became a major point of pride in Fascist Italy and was sold to several countries in the years before WW2.

Unlike nearly every bomber in War Thunder (and even in WW2), it was built mainly of steel a wood!  The fuselage was a common for time welded steel tube design, with entire rear half being covered in cloth and plywood.  The crew area to nose was duralumin cladded (which is very similar to Hawker Hurricane’s construction). Most surprising the wings are completely wood! A major technical achievement for its size.  During its production life several engines where tried, depending on power and reliability, one model even removing the nose engine. 

To make the SM.79 fast the wings are shorter than typical for its weight.  To compensate for higher clean stall speed a number of advanced high lift devices were used to reduce stall speed for landing, being Handley-Page leading extending slats and drooping ailerons (also called “flaperons”) in conjunction with uncommon slotted flaps.  After trying a few engines, the Alfa Romeo 126 was used on the prototypes for testing and the record breaking flights soon after.  As with the SM.73 / S.81, once again the Italian military wanted a bomber version and laid out proposed additions.

Sparviero goes to war

The spacious cabin was easy to install a set of bomb racks, all bombs mounted vertically (not unusual for time).  While the S.81 had the bomb aimers position just behind the nose mounted engine, the SM.79 positioned it in a ventral “tub” well after of the bomb bay itself.  Also unlike the S.81 this streamlined tub also became the location of the ventral defensive gun, usually a 12.7mm Breda-SAFT MG instead of a turret.  A streamlined dorsal mount was also installed for a rear firing 12.7mm MG, and unusually for bombers a fixed, pilot fired forward mounted 12.7mm MG, firing above the propeller disk.  Both these streamlined protrusions could be closed to greatly minimize drag for a very high cruise speed, which the turreted S.81 could not.  It was the prominent hump on its top that earned the nickname il gobbo maledetto ("damned hunchback").  Italy was open to export sales, and many countries purchased this top of line bomber to add to their forces.

From the high of the Spanish Civil War to the end of WW2, the Sparviero was the backbone of Italian bomber air forces and continued to do well over the vast stretches of the Mediterranean sea despite better allied defenses.  Success was made despite high losses up to the Italian Armistice.  They continued to be used in lesser roles on both sides of the conflict, and after the war were used for various duties by several nations for years later.  Lebanon was the last operator who used them well in the 1950’s and are the last 2 remaining SM.79 in world.

This version was dedicated toward low level anti-ship torpedo missions. To improve speed the unnenecessary ventral tub was removed, as they flew too low to be attacked from below the aircraft. The ability to carry bombs was retained.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

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;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

• Official data sheet - more details about the performance

Italy bombers
Fiat	B.R.20DR · B.R.20M M1
Savoia-Marchetti	S.81 · S.M.79 serie 1 · S.M.79 B · S.M.79 serie 8 · S.M.79 AS · S.M.79 bis/T.M
CANT	Z.1007 bis serie 3 · Z.1007 bis serie 5
Piaggio	P.108B serie 1 · P.108B serie 2
	Foreign:
Germany	▄Ju 87 R-2 · ▄Ju 87 D-3
Hungary	◔Tu-2S-59