The SM.79 was an outstanding aircraft and was certainly the best-known Italian aeroplane of World War II.
It was the most widely produced Italian bomber of World War II, with some 1,300 built,
remaining in Italian service until 1952.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savoia-Marchetti_SM.79
Almost 600 SM.79-I and –II aircraft were in service when Italy entered World War II, and these aircraft were deployed
in every theatre of war in which the Italians fought.
The first recorded interception of an SM.79 formation took place on 11 October 1937 when three aircraft were attacked
by 12 Polikarpov I-16s. One of the SM.79s was damaged but its defensive armament prevented close-up attacks. All
bombers returned to base, although one had been hit by 27 bullets, many hitting the fuel tanks. Other interceptions
occurred in the conflict without any SM.79s being lost.[20]
By the beginning of World War II 612 aircraft had been delivered, making the Sparviero the most numerous bomber in the whole
of the Regia Aereonautica, assigned to a total of 14 wings (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 30, 32, 33, 34, 36, 41 and 46).[21] Not all
of these wings had Gruppi (groups) entirely equipped with the SM.79. Every squadron had around nine to 10 aircraft, but this
included second line aircraft, so the force of each squadron consisted on average of around seven to eight bombers, and every
wing had around 30 bombers. Among these units; 8, 9, 11, 12, 30, 32, 36, 41 and 46 Stormi (Wings) were based in Italy, and
participated in the Battle of France. They were equipped with a total of around 350 SM.79s, including those used in training squadrons.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savoia-Marchetti_SM.79
Operational history as torpedo bomber
1940
The Sparviero began its torpedo bomber (Aerosilurante in Italian) career on 25 July 1940 when a new unit was established after
several years of experiments. The special unit became known as the 278th Squadriglia, and from September 1940 carried out many
shipping attacks, including on 4 September (when Buscaglia had his aircraft damaged by fighters) and 10 September, when Robone
claimed a merchant ship sunk. On 17 September, after an unsuccessful day attack, Buscaglia and Robone returned at night, attacking
the British ships that shelled Bardia. One torpedo hit HMS Kent, damaging the heavy cruiser to the extent that the ship remained under
repair until September 1941. After almost a month of attacks, this was the first success officially acknowledged and proven. After almost
a month of further attacks, a newcomer, Erasi, flew with Robone on 14 October 1940 against a British formation and hit HMS Liverpool,
a modern cruiser that lost her bow and needed 13 months of repair. After several months, and despite the losses and the first unfortunate
mission, the core of the 278th was still operating the same four aircraft. The last success of this squadron was at Souda Bay, Crete, when
Buscaglia damaged another cruiser, HMS Glasgow, despite the anti-torpedo netting surrounding the ship, sending it out of commission for
nine months while repairs were made.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savoia-Marchetti_SM.79
1941
The year started out badly, but improved in April when many successes were recorded by SM.79s of the 281st and 280th .
They sank two merchant ships, heavily damaged the British cruiser HMS Manchester (sending it out of service for nine months)
and later also sank the F class destroyer HMS Fearless. However, one SM.79 was shot down 25 nmi (46 km) north west of
Gozo on 3 June, landing in the sea and staying afloat for some time. Further Italian successes came in August, when the
light cruiser HMS Phoebe was damaged. The large merchant ship SS Imperial Star (10,886 tonnes/12,000 tons) was sunk by a
SM.79 in September. The 130th and 132nd Gruppo were also active during the autumn. On 24 October, they sank the
Empire Pelican and Empire Defender, on 23 November they sank the Glenearn and Xhakdina, and on 11 December they heavily
damaged the Jackal.[27]
The year ended with a total of nine Allied ships sunk and several damaged. The Italians had lost fourteen torpedo bombers
and sustained several damaged in action. This was the best year for the Italian torpedo bombers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savoia-Marchetti_SM.79
1942
Over 100 SM.79s were in service in different Italian torpedo squadrons.
In addition to its wide-scale deployment in its intended bomber-torpedo bomber role, the Sparviero was also used for close support,
reconnaissance and transport missions. In the first six months of 1942, all the Italo-German efforts to hit Allied ships had only resulted
in the sinking of the merchant ship Thermopilae by an aircraft flown by Carlo studmuffingioni.
The Allies aimed to provide Malta with vital supplies and fuel through major convoy operations at all costs. Almost all Axis air potential
was used against the first Allied convoy, Harpoon. 14 June saw the second torpedoing of Liverpool, by a 132nd Gruppo SM.79, putting
it out of action for another 13 months. On the same day the merchant ship Tanimbar was sunk by SM.79s of the 132nd, and finally the
day after HMS Bedouin, a Tribal-class destroyer, already damaged by two Italian cruisers, was sunk by pilot M. Aichner, also of 132nd
Gruppo. For years this victory was contested by the Italian Navy, who claimed to have sunk Bedouin with gunfire.[28]
August saw heavy attacks on the 14 merchant ships and 44 major warships of the Operation Pedestal convoy, the second Allied attempt
to resupply Malta past Axis bombers, minefields and U-boats. Nine of the merchant ships and four of the warships were sunk, and others
were damaged, but only the destroyer HMS Foresight and the merchant ship MV Deucalion were sunk by Italian torpedo bombers. Although
damaged, the tanker SS Ohio, a key part of the convoy, was towed into Grand Harbour to deliver the vital fuel on 15 August 1942 to enable
Malta to continue functioning as an important Allied base, a major Allied strategic success.
By winter 1942, in contrast to Operation Torch, 9 December was a successful day when four SM.79s sank a Flower class corvette and a
merchant ship, with the loss of one aircraft.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savoia-Marchetti_SM.79
1943
Savoia-Marchetti S.M.79 over Sciacca
The year opened with attacks against Allied shipping off North Africa, but still without much success. In July, the Allies invaded Sicily with an
immense fleet. The Sparvieri were already obsolete and phased out of service in bomber Wings and its intended successors, the SM.84 and
Z.1007, were a failure, while the latter were not produced in enough numbers. As a consequence, the latest version of the Sparviero was
retained for torpedo attacks, being considerably faster than its predecessors.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savoia-Marchetti_SM.79
Dimensions:
Wing span: 69 ft 6 1/2 in (21.2 m)
Length: 53 ft 1 3/4 in (16.2m)
Height: 13 ft 5.5 in (4.1 m)
Weights:
Empty: 16,755 lb (7,600 kg)
Operational: 24,192 lb (11,300 kg)
Performance:
Maximum Speed: 270 mph (434 km/h)
Service Ceiling: 23,000 ft (7,000 m)
Range: 1,243 miles (2,000 km)
Powerplant:
Powered by three 559 kW (750 hp) Alfa-Romeo 126 RC.34 radials.
Later three Piaggio P.XI RC40 1,000 hp 14-cylinder radial.
Armament:
Fwd firing 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT gun
a second firing to the rear from the hump;
a third aimed down and to
the rear from the gondola
often a 7.7 mm firing from each beam window.
(this needing a crew of at least five.)
Up to 1,000 kg (2,205 lb) of bombs were carried in an internal bay;
alternatively two 450 mm (17.7 in) torpedoes could be hung externally.
