S.M.79 serie 1

This page is about the Italian bomber S.M.79 serie 1. For other versions, see S.M.79 (Family).

S.M.79 serie 1

B.R.20M M1

S.M.79 serie 8

S.M.79 serie 1

B.R.20M M1

S.M.79 serie 8

Italy

I Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
2.0	1.7	2.0

Class:

Bomber

Frontline bomber

Research:5 900

Purchase:6 300

Description

The S.M.79 Sparviero serie 1 (1936) is a rank I Italian bomber with a battle rating of 2.0 (AB/SB) and 1.7 (RB). It was introduced in Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica", though a variant existed in the Germany aircraft tech tree prior to the update.

Due to its relatively low Battle Rating, the three-engined S.M.79 serie 1 enjoys a relatively high speed for a bomber against most of the lower tiered 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 tier 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.

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	404	6800	32.6	33.6	4.5	4.4	450
Upgraded	444	430		30.4	31.6	7.8	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

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
3,400 m	740 hp	N/A

Survivability and armour

Crew5 people

Speed of destruction

Structural530 km/h

Gear300 km/h

• No armour
• Self-sealing fuel tanks (1 under dorsal gunner, 1 in each wingroot, 1 in each outer part of the wing, 1 in the rear of each engine nacelle)

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB340 → 460

RB460 → 623

SB736 → 997

Total cost of modifications5 950

4 540

Talisman cost410

Crew training1 800

Experts6 300

Aces80

Research Aces135 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

30 / 60 / 110 %

106 / 106 / 106 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 300 Cost: 230 70 Radiator Research: 300 Cost: 230 70 Airframe Research: 330 Cost: 250 75 Compressor Research: 330 Cost: 250 75 Wings repair Research: 370 Cost: 280 85 Engine Research: 370 Cost: 280 85 Cover Research: 390 Cost: 300 90	EFS Research: 390 Cost: 300 90	safat12_belt_pack Research: 300 Cost: 230 70 GP100 Research: 300 Cost: 230 70 safat12_new_gun Research: 330 Cost: 250 75 bmg303_turret_belt_pack Research: 330 Cost: 250 75 safat12_turret_belt_pack Research: 370 Cost: 280 85 GP250 Research: 370 Cost: 280 85 safat12_turret_new_gun Research: 390 Cost: 300 90 lewis_turret_new_gun Research: 390 Cost: 300 90 GP500 Research: 390 Cost: 300 90

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 112.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun

Ammunition350 rounds

Fire rate700 shots/min

The S.M.79 serie 1 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 1 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)
• 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 1 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

S.M.79 serie 1 is a decent bomber at its BR and below, but it faces many threats, for example Spitfires, LaGG-3s, MiG-3s and P-40s.

If the S.M.79 manage to get past the threats, it has the payload to take out enemy bomb points and ground targets, with its bomber spawn it can descend to get extra speed to quickly get to the bombing point, those this will also expose it to enemy fighters and attackers that have the firepower to destroy the S.M.79 with ease in both Realistic and Arcade battles.

A big drawback with the S.M.79 is that it's big and not fast or agile compared to certain bombers at same BR but if it is able to pass through enemy line it can cause a lot of damage to the points. It has 2 x 12.7 mm Breda MGs aiming backwards in a limited field of view making a lot of the plane uncovered by the MGs, as well as 2 x 7.7 mm Breda MGs on the sides, also with limited views, leaving a lot of the plane unprotected.

S.M.79 also has an offensive 12.7 mm which can do damage to enemy fighters or bombers, if one has a well trained aim, it can be a dangerous weapon to the S.M.79's advantage. The problem with the 12.7 mm is its slow rate of fire compared to other 12.7 mm and a low count of 350 rounds in the gun.

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.
• Good 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-2.

Cons:

• Very limited bomb payload compared to the He 111 H-3 which has 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 payload, but individually more powerful bombs or higher total bomb payload with less powerful bombs.

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 S.81 in game, which was a militarized version of the successful S.73. The S.M.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 S.M.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 S.M.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 S.M.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 12.7 mm Breda-SAFT MG instead of a turret. A streamlined dorsal mount was also installed for a rear firing 12.7 mm MG, and unusually for bombers a fixed, pilot fired forward mounted 12.7 mm 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 S.M.79 in world.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the S.M.79 serie 1 from live.warthunder.com.

See also

Related development

• S.M.79 (Family)
  • S.M.79 serie 1 (Germany)

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