Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero

Designed as a three-engined civil transport for 8 passengers for the London - Melbourne route, the prototype Savoia Marchetti S.M. 79 Sparviero (Sparrowhawk) first flew at the end of 1934.

Its excellent performance resulted in its being adapted as a reconnaissance aircraft and bomber, and it served with great success in the Second World War, mainly as a torpedo bomber. 1,300 examples were built.

The Savoia 79 had wooden triple-spar wings covered in plywood, with flaps, and automatic leading edge slats. The fuselage was of steel tube covered with metal panels, wood and fabric. It had a hydraulically retracted undercarriage.

Maximum offensive load was 1,536 kg. The powerful defensive armament comprised three Breda. Safat 12.7 mm. machine guns and a 7.7 mm. Lewis gun. Two of the Bredas were housed in the fairing behind the cockpit, giving rise to its nickname of "Gobbio" or hunchback. One pointed forward and the other aft, and the third was located in a ventral housing.

The first aircraft arrived in Mallorca at the beginning of 1937, and from here they were transferred to Soria. In August the Italian 29 Group was established. In the summer 3G-28 was established, commanded by Luis Pardo, which took part in the battle of Belchite operating from Soria. In the Autumn 4G-28 (Luis Navarro) and 5G-28 (Jos� Gom�) were established. Together with the He-70 Group they were incorporated into No 2 Squadron (Jos� Lacalle) and No 3 Mixed Squadron. Later they came under 1st Hispana Air Brigade (Apolinar S�enz de Buruaga), taking part in the battle of Teruel from Soria and Aranda and in the offensive of the southern Ebro valley. In Spring 1938 the final Spanish group was established - 6G-28 led by Francisco Vives.
The Italians had No 111 Fast Bomber Squadron at Zaragoza and another, No 8, in Mallorca, which operated from Son San Joan against the Mediterranean ports.

In Autumn 1938 the 2nd Hispana Air Brigade under the Infante Alfonso de Orleans was established, incorporating Nos 2 and 3 Squadrons.

The crew comprised pilot and copilot, whose backs were protected by 9.5 mm. thick armour plate. The radio operator and flight engineer were accommodated further aft. The bombardier was housed in the centre of the fuselage behind the bomb bay. He had a bombsight, rudder controls, flight instruments and an automatic camera.

The Savoia S.M.-79 was a formidable bomber; it was fast and able to absorb enemy fire. Testimony to this is the fact that in the whole Civil War only five were shot down and four destroyed on the ground.


ENGINE 3 Alfa Romeo 126
POWER PLANT 780 HP
WINGSPAN 21,2 m.
LENGTH 15,6 m.
HEIGHT 4,6 m.
WING AREA 61,7 m2.
EMPTY WEIGHT 6.800 kg.
ALL UP WEIGHT 10.500 kg.
WING LOADING 172 kg./m2
CRUISING SPEED at 5,000 m 360 km/h.
MAX SPEED AT 3,800m 410 km./h
TIME TO 4,000 M 13 min.
SERVICE CEILING 7.000 m.
RANGE 1.900 Km.
                                           http://www.aire.org/gce/english/nac/savoiasm.htm