S.M.79 AS

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

S.M.79 AS

S.M.79 AS

Description

The S.M.79 Sparviero AS (1941) is a rank Italian bomber with a battle rating of (AB), (RB), and (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica" alongside the initial Italian aviation tree.

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	459	445		32.2	33.1	3.3	3.3	400
Upgraded	504	480		29.9	31.0	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	+	-
		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	910 hp

Survivability and armour

• No armour
• 9 self-sealing fuel tanks (1 under dorsal gunner, 4 in each wing)
• Can survive some hits from calibres below 20 mm 
• Engines are prone to catching fire very easily when hit
• Poor defensive gunner positions

Armaments

Offensive armament

The S.M.79 AS is armed with:

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

Suspended armament

The S.M.79 AS 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 F200/450 torpedo
• 2 x 500 kg GP 500 bombs (1,000 kg total)

Defensive armament

The S.M.79 AS 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

Describe the tactics of playing in an aircraft, the features of using vehicles in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).

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:

• Pilot-controlled fixed forward-firing 12.7 mm Breda, which can be equipped with IAI (explosive) ammunition.
• Good speed, fastest version of the S.M.79.
• Middle engine provides some level of protection for the pilot against head-on attacks.
• Capable of carrying torpedoes, unlike previous models.
• Can fly on 2 engines.
• The engines overheat slowly.

Cons:

• Very limited bomb payload.
• 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.
• Engines are prone to catching fire when hit.

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.

The version was modified to mount a torpedo, but was little changed from earlier versions.

Media

Skins

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

See also

• ▀S.M.79 AS - Version of the plane in the German tech tree

Other S.M.79 vehicles:

• S.M.79 serie 1
• S.M.79 serie 8
• S.M.79 bis/T.M
• S.M.79 B

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