S.M.79 serie 1 (Germany)

This page is about the gift German bomber S.M.79 serie 1 (Germany). For other uses, see S.M.79 (Family).

▀S.M.79 serie 1

▀S.M.79 serie 1

Description

The ▀S.M.79 Sparviero serie 1 (1936) is a gift rank German bomber with a battle rating of (AB), (RB), and (SB). It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27 in the German aviation tree. In Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica", the S.M.79, as well as the other Italian planes in the German tree, were moved to the new Italian tree, although it still exists in the German tree for those who unlocked it prior to Update 1.69.

General info

Flight performance

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	405		32.6	33.7	4.5	4.4	450
Upgraded	442	430		30.7	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	+	-
		325	325	220	~3	~2

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 260	< 270	< 270	> 290

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
3,300 m	2,250 hp	2,617 hp

Survivability and armour

• No armour plating
• No armour glazing
• Fuel tanks located in fuselage and wing roots

Armaments

Offensive armament

The S.M.79 serie 1 (Germany) is armed with:

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

Suspended armament

The S.M.79 serie 1 (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

The S.M.79 serie 1 (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 SM.79 serie 8 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 SM.79 can use these to more easily take out pillboxes and heavier tanks, although this reduces the total bombload to only 1000 kg as opposed to 1250 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 compared to the He 111 H-3 (1,250 kg max)
• 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

In-game description

Three-engine SIAI Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 "Sparviero" medium bomber, first series, issued 1936.

A mixed-construction monoplane with a retractable landing gear system including tail wheel. Crew: 4-5. Created in the SIAI (Societa Idrovolanti Alta Italia) design firm, led by Alessandro Marchetti, as a passenger aircraft. The prototype SM.79 in passenger configuration (civil designation I-MAGO) made its first flight on October 8, 1934.

The prototype SM.79 bomber (serial number M.M.20663) first flew on July 8, 1936. Serial production began in November 1936.

The SM.79 was powered by three 9-cylinder radial air-cooled Alfa-Romeo 126RC34 engines with 780 hp and a metal variable-pitch SIAI propeller.

The typical wide box-shaped fuselage of passenger planes was retained. But the characteristic dorsal "hump" in the fuselage was implemented and became the SM.79's lifelong hallmark. Because of this, the aircraft earned the nickname "Gobbo" ("Hunchback").

In front of the "hump", a fixed 12.7-mm Breda SAFAT machine gun with 350 rounds of ammunition was installed. The pilot directed the machine gun's fire. In the rear of the hump, a pivoting 12.7-mm Breda SAFAT machine gun with 500 rounds of ammunition was installed.

In the tail section, under the bomber's fuselage, a pivot mount was installed with a 12.7-mm Breda SAFAT machine gun with 500 rounds of ammunition. In addition, a 7.7-mm Lewis machine gun with a rotary magazine (and 485 rounds of ammunition) was installed inside the fuselage. It was specially installed so that it could move from one side of the aircraft to the other. The gun was fired through large rectangular blisters located on the plane's port and starboard side.

The bomb bay was located in the central part of the fuselage and was offset slightly to the right to allow access to the aircraft's tail section. It could accommodate up to 1,200 kg of bombs in various combinations (2 x 500 kg, 5 x 250kg, 12 x 100 kg, or 12 12kg canisters of small fragmentation bombs). All of the bombs were hung vertically, except the 500 kg bombs, which were installed at an angle.

Once officially approved, the bomber was called the SM.79 "Sparviero" ("Hawk"), but the name failed to stick, and combat units continued to call the plane the "hunchback".

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