Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero 'Gobbo Maledetto'

Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero

'Gobbo Maledetto' (hunchback)

History

RYAF bought 45 SM.79 from Italy and divided them into 7th Bomb Regiment (66th and 67th Group) and 81st Independent Bomb Group each with 15 aircraft. At lest three aircraft where lost before the war: first hit ÄŒabulja mountain (Livno-Konjic) after going through cloud, entire crew was killed. Second crashed in unknown circumstances ion PodveleÅ¾je, again entire crew was killed. Third crashed into Neretva river do to pilot error but lucky nobody was killed. This aircraft was allegedly recovered from the river.

Most important mission of 214th Squadron of 66th Group was bombing of enemy units in KaÄani gorge. Seven Savoia took off at 10:30 to perform combat mission. Savoia No.30, in lack of pilot, was flown by Pero MilinkoviÄ‡, from Mostar, air force mechanic and reserve pilot, today he is 87. Weather conditions were bad since the day earlier snow fell, but that didn't prevent 66th Group after 50 min of flight to discover large military formations in KaÄani gorge. Savioa's No.30 bombardier Crvenkovski could not identify column correctly and to avoid bombing friendly forces 10 bombs of 100 kg were drooped on inhabitant parts of mountians. After returning and landing one of the few surviving Do-17 from Skopje air base arrived at there base. Next day airfield near UÅ¾iÄka PoÅ¾ega was covered by fog. Despite of this all aircraft of 66th Group lead by Senior Captain (kapetan I klase) Jeftom BoÅ¡njak flew over to Mostar airfield. Only incident happened when the on the new comer Do-17 was opened friendly fire, but managed to land with one engine damaged.

After collapse of Royal Yugoslav Army many aircraft tried to fly over to USSR. During one attempt Senior Captain Jeftom BoÅ¡njak was killed. On Mostar airfield only one Savoia remains (No. 23 or 25) which is taken over by NDH.

Technical details

Manufacturer Societa Italiana Aeroplani Idrovolanti 'Savoia-Marchetti'

Class Medium bomber

Data for SM.79-I Sparviero

In service 1937 to early 1950s

Armament One 12.7 mm (0.5 in) Breda-SAFAT fixed forward-firing machine gun with 350 rounds in a position above the cockpit, one 12.7 mm (0.5 in) Breda-SAFAT trainable rearward-firing machine gun with 500 rounds in the dorsal position, one 12.7 mm (0.5 in) Breda-SAFAT trainable rearward-firing machine gun in the ventral position, and one 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Lewis trainable lateral-firing machine gun in either of the two beam positions.
Up to 2,756 lb (1250 kg) of disposable stores carried in a lower-fuselage weapons bay rated at 2,756 lb (1250 kg), and generally comprising two 500 kg (1,102 lb) bombs, or five 250 kg (551 lb) bombs, or 12 100 kg (220 lb) bombs.

Equipment Standard communication and navigation equipment, plus a Jozza optical bomb sight, optical gun sights and two reconnaissance cameras

Crew Pilot and co-pilot side-by-side on an enclosed cockpit, and navigator/bombardier/gunner, radio operator/gunner and flight engineer/gunner carried in the fuselage

Speed Maximum: 430 km/h (267 mph; 232 kt) at 4000 meters (13,125 ft)
360 km/h (224 mph; 194 kt) at sea level
cruising 375 km/h (233 mph; 202 kt) at optimum altitude

Range Maximum: 3300 km (2,050 miles; 1,780 nm)
typical: 1900 km (1,181 miles; 1,025 nm) with typical bomb load

Ceiling 6500 m (21,325 ft)

Climb 5000 m (16,405 ft) in 19 minutes 45 seconds

Engine Three Alfa Romeo 126 RC.34 radial piston engines each rated at 780 hp (582 kW) for take-off and 750 hp (559 kW) at 3350 m (10,990 ft)

Internal fuel 2550 kg (5,622 lb)

Length 15.80 meters (51 ft 10 in)

Height 4.31 meters (14 ft 1.75 in)

Wing Span: 21.20 meters (69 ft 2.67 in)
aspect ratio: 7.28
area: 61.70 m2 (664.14 sq ft)

Weight empty: 6800 kg (14,991 lb)
maximum take-off: 10480 kg (23,104 lb)

Operators

Brazil ? SM.79B

Germany ? SM.79-II

Iraq 4 SM.79B

Italy about 1,230 SM.79-I/II/III
16 SM.79C conversions from earlier standards
? SM.79T number of conversions from earlier standards

NDH 1 SM.79K

Rumania 24 SM.79B
40 SM.79JR

South Africa 1 SM.79-II

Spain 85 SM.79-I

UK 1 SM.79-II
4 SM.79K

Yugoslavia 45 SM.79K

Recommended reading

Savoia Marchetti S.79 in Action by Roberto Gentilli, Don Greer

Manufacturer	Societa Italiana Aeroplani Idrovolanti 'Savoia-Marchetti'
Class	Medium bomber
Data for SM.79-I Sparviero
In service	1937 to early 1950s
Armament	One 12.7 mm (0.5 in) Breda-SAFAT fixed forward-firing machine gun with 350 rounds in a position above the cockpit, one 12.7 mm (0.5 in) Breda-SAFAT trainable rearward-firing machine gun with 500 rounds in the dorsal position, one 12.7 mm (0.5 in) Breda-SAFAT trainable rearward-firing machine gun in the ventral position, and one 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Lewis trainable lateral-firing machine gun in either of the two beam positions. Up to 2,756 lb (1250 kg) of disposable stores carried in a lower-fuselage weapons bay rated at 2,756 lb (1250 kg), and generally comprising two 500 kg (1,102 lb) bombs, or five 250 kg (551 lb) bombs, or 12 100 kg (220 lb) bombs.
Equipment	Standard communication and navigation equipment, plus a Jozza optical bomb sight, optical gun sights and two reconnaissance cameras
Crew	Pilot and co-pilot side-by-side on an enclosed cockpit, and navigator/bombardier/gunner, radio operator/gunner and flight engineer/gunner carried in the fuselage
Speed	Maximum: 430 km/h (267 mph; 232 kt) at 4000 meters (13,125 ft) 360 km/h (224 mph; 194 kt) at sea level cruising 375 km/h (233 mph; 202 kt) at optimum altitude
Range	Maximum: 3300 km (2,050 miles; 1,780 nm) typical: 1900 km (1,181 miles; 1,025 nm) with typical bomb load
Ceiling	6500 m (21,325 ft)
Climb	5000 m (16,405 ft) in 19 minutes 45 seconds
Engine	Three Alfa Romeo 126 RC.34 radial piston engines each rated at 780 hp (582 kW) for take-off and 750 hp (559 kW) at 3350 m (10,990 ft)
Internal fuel	2550 kg (5,622 lb)
Length	15.80 meters (51 ft 10 in)
Height	4.31 meters (14 ft 1.75 in)
Wing	Span: 21.20 meters (69 ft 2.67 in) aspect ratio: 7.28 area: 61.70 m2 (664.14 sq ft)
Weight	empty: 6800 kg (14,991 lb) maximum take-off: 10480 kg (23,104 lb)


Brazil	? SM.79B
Germany	? SM.79-II
Iraq	4 SM.79B
Italy	about 1,230 SM.79-I/II/III 16 SM.79C conversions from earlier standards ? SM.79T number of conversions from earlier standards
NDH	1 SM.79K
Rumania	24 SM.79B 40 SM.79JR
South Africa	1 SM.79-II
Spain	85 SM.79-I
UK	1 SM.79-II 4 SM.79K
Yugoslavia	45 SM.79K