Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Wishlist => Topic started by: glock89 on August 11, 2008, 09:45:31 PM
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It was the most important Italian bomber of World War II, this tough three-engined aircraft established a reputation that contrasted with most Italian weapons of the day, and it was flown with courage and skill. SM.79s served widely in the normal bombing role; but it is as a land-based torpedo bomber that the type deserves its place in military aviation history, being regarded by many as one of the finest torpedo bombers of the war.
The prototype appeared in late 1934 and subsequently had a varied career, setting records and winning races with various engines and painted in civil or military markings. The basic design continued the company's tradition of mixed construction with steel tubes light alloy wood and fabric (this being the only way to produce in quantity with available skills and tools); but compared with other designs it had a much more highly loaded wing which demanded long airstrips,
The prototype SM.79 had flown on 2 September 1935, powered by three 750 hp Alfa Romeo 125 RC.34 engines, and so following the Regia Aeronautica's preferred tri-motor formula. About 1,300 production models were built over a nine year period. They had internal provision for 2,750 lb (1,250 kg) of bombs, supplemented by under fuselage racks for a pair of heavy bombs, or two torpedoes in the case of the SM.79-II and SM.79-III.
The SM.79 had a distinctive 'hump' on the upper forward fuselage, which housed both the fixed forward-firing heavy machine-gun and the dorsal gunner's position. Its appearance earned the aircraft the nickname 'Gobbo Maleditto' ('Damned Hunchback'). In spite of its cumbersome appearance and outdated steel tube/wood/fabric construction, the S.M.79 was a rugged, reliable multi-role medium bomber which did quite a bit of damage in the face of heavy opposition.
Developed from a civil airliner, the first Sparvieros entered service with the Regia Aeronautica in late 1936, just in time to fly combat over Spain with the Aviacion Legionaria, the Italian contingent fighting in support of the Nationalists. The SM.79-I established an excellent reputation in combat with the Aviacion Legionaria in Spain in 1936-1939. Its performance drew favorable comments from both sides, leading to a succession of export orders. The SM.79-I served with the Italian Aviazione Legionaria in support of Franco in the Spanish Civil War.
In October 1939 the Regia Aeronautica began to receive the 79-II with 745.2 kW (1,000 hp) Piaggio P.XI RC.40 engines (one batch had the Fiat A.80 of similar power) and this was the dominant version in action subsequently. About 1,200 served with the Regia Aeronautica including a handful of the III sub-type with forward-firing 20 mm cannon and no ventral gondola. When Italy joined the war in 1940 its air force had nearly 1,000 bombers, of which well over half were Savoia-Marchetti S.M.79 Sparviero (Hawk) medium bombers. These trimotors, were thought by many to be among the best land-based torpedo bombers of the war. They could carry 1,250 kg (2,750 lb) of bombs internally or two torpedoes. Also active as a medium bomber around the Mediterranean and on anti-ship duties was the Cant Z.1007bis Alcione (Kingfisher) ,production of which began in 1939. It also was a trimotor, powered by 1,000 hp Piaggio radials, and it carried four machine guns for self-defense as well as up to 2,000 kg (4,410 lb) of bombs or two torpedoes.
In the summer of 1942, Allied efforts to relieve beleaguered Malta culminated in 'Operation Pedestal', when 14 merchantmen with heavy Royal Navy escort left Gibraltar on August 10. Among the enemy aircraft sent against them were 74 Sparvieri (Sparrow Hawks), a number of which had already scored hits on the battleship HMS Malaya and the carrier HMS Argus. 'Pedestal' eventually got through to Malta, but at the cost of one carrier, two cruisers, a destroyer and nine merchant ships, many of them having been hit by torpedoes from the S.M.79s.
The more powerful SM.79-II served in North Africa, the Balkans, and Mediterranean during the Second World War, while other units called Aerosiluranti (aerial torpedoes) pioneered use of these large fast bombers in the anti-shipping role. When the Italians surrendered on September 8,1943, it did not end the combat record of the SM.79, and a new version, the SM.79-III torpedo-bomber, was placed in production by the RSI, the fascist government in northern Italy.
An effective torpedo bomber as well, the S.M.79 served in the air forces of Brazil, Iraq, Yugoslavia, Romania and Spain, some right up to the end of the war. The Romanians flew them on the Russian front from 1941 to 1944, an unprecedented record for an aircraft designed in the early 1930s. Though known as a tri-motor, several versions were built as twin-engined aircraft using a number of different powerplants, including Junkers Jumo 211 D 1,220 hp inlines. Regardless of the version, its handling pleased most pilots and its ability to come home with extensive damage endeared it even more. Used throughout North Africa and the Mediterranean until the Italian surrender in September 1943, the Sparviero remained flying with both the Italian cobelligerent forces fighting alongside the Allies and the surviving pro-Nazi units.
About 100 were exported to Brazil Iraq and Romania - all of the twin-engined S.M. 79B variety. Romania built the 79JR under license with two 894 kW (1,200 hp) Junkers Jumo 211Da liquid-cooled engines. These were used in numbers on the Eastern Front; initially as bombers with visual aiming position in the nose and subsequently mainly as utility transports.
Post-war surviving SM.79s were converted into various versions of utility transports during the last phases of the war and survived in that role until 1952.
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I.A.R. 81c
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where was this copied from?
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where was this copied from?
Wiki....
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Any Axis bomber would be a great addition.
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I agree we need more Axis bombers. This bomber is one of the[/i] Iconic Italian bombers of the time.
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I agree we need more Axis bombers. This bomber is one of the[/i] Iconic Italian bombers of the time.
I would like to see this one to as it is on par with a B17. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piaggio_P.108 SORRY FOR THE HIJACK.
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Yep, would love to see them!
SM 79:
(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/917_1201016917_s.m.79sparviero2.jpg)
SM 79:
(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/917_1201016888_s.m.79sparviero1.jpg)
P 108B:
(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/917_1201016844_piaggiop.108b2.jpg)
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P 108B:
(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/917_1201016844_piaggiop.108b2.jpg)
Vulch? :D
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I hate skyrock.
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http://richard.ferriere.free.fr/3vues/sm79_3v.jpg (http://richard.ferriere.free.fr/3vues/sm79_3v.jpg)
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For those of you who don't click links:
(http://richard.ferriere.free.fr/3vues/sm79_3v.jpg)
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Any Axis bomber would be a great addition.
:pray
I'm tired of getting my butt shott off in the Ju-88. The Do-217 or P-108 are at the top of my list for axis bombers.
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HE-111? :confused:
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HE-111? :confused:
Yes, for scenarios, but totally inadequate for the main arena.
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Yes, for scenarios, but totally inadequate for the main arena.
Dirty mouth? Clean up with Orbit...
Never say that again. :D
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Dirty mouth? Clean up with Orbit...
Never say that again. :D
lol
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... but totally inadequate for the main arena.
So are planes like the P40B, the C202, the Spit 1, B5N, D3A, etc... I'd like to see another early bird in the MA's, just because it breaks up the monotony. It's been some time since I've posted a good sized Ju-88/109 Escort mission. :t
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So are planes like the P40B, the C202, the Spit 1, B5N, D3A, etc... I'd like to see another early bird in the MA's, just because it breaks up the monotony. It's been some time since I've posted a good sized Ju-88/109 Escort mission. :t
I hear ya, and if you do it again I'd like to participate. Still, for my purposes I'd almost never fly an He111 but I would fly a Do217 frequently.
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I would rather have more early war planes.
Fill in the gap, and give more perks to all the later 44 early 45 fighters, that way we would have more perk options to spend on, and more planes to fly and fight against.
win win win.
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Indeed.
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This plane would be a great additon to this game. I have been fighting for new Italian planes for a while. we need some more we need at least a new bomber or a Italian tank.
The Italian Carro Armato P 40 is a Heavy tank that was armed with a 75mm gun along with a 8mm machine gun for defense, it could travel up to 25mph as well(http://blog.mrwebmaster.it/uploads/c/caviglione/carro_armato_pesante_p26_40_profilo.jpg)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P40_tank (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P40_tank)<--- here is info on the Tank.
well anyways the S.M. 79 or Cant Z.1007 would be awesome we just need new Italian aircraft.
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This plane would be a great additon to this game. I have been fighting for new Italian planes for a while. we need some more we need at least a new bomber or a Italian tank.
The Italian Carro Armato P 40 is a Heavy tank that was armed with a 75mm gun along with a 8mm machine gun for defense, it could travel up to 25mph as well(http://blog.mrwebmaster.it/uploads/c/caviglione/carro_armato_pesante_p26_40_profilo.jpg)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P40_tank (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P40_tank)<--- here is info on the Tank.
well anyways the S.M. 79 or Cant Z.1007 would be awesome we just need new Italian aircraft.
I vote for tank
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PLANES!! :furious
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One thing that might sweeten up use of the less-capable early bombers in the MA would be to give them 4 drones instead of 2, so they fly in a vic of 5 instead of 3. Keep the current bombers with 2 drones.
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Yes! That would be an idea. Increasing the drones would possibly offset the differences, however I wouldn't want to increase the drones by that large a number. Perhaps only 3 drones?
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This plane would be a great additon to this game. I have been fighting for new Italian planes for a while. we need some more we need at least a new bomber or a Italian tank.
The Italian Carro Armato P 40 is a Heavy tank that was armed with a 75mm gun along with a 8mm machine gun for defense, it could travel up to 25mph as well(http://blog.mrwebmaster.it/uploads/c/caviglione/carro_armato_pesante_p26_40_profilo.jpg)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P40_tank (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P40_tank)<--- here is info on the Tank.
well anyways the S.M. 79 or Cant Z.1007 would be awesome we just need new Italian aircraft.
is that the one with 8 reverce gears and 1 forward one?
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not sure.
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I like this one
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Thank you for searching.