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Aviation History
1940
1940 - 1964.PDF
JULY II, 1940 The upper view showsthe forward turret on a Savoia-Marchetti S.M.81bomber. This is hydrau- lically operated andhouses two intercon- nected 7.7 mm. guns. During the Spanish warSavoia-Marchetti S.M.81 bombers were usuallyescorted by C.R.32 fight- ers, as shown on the right. tion dampers. The air- screws are of the Alfa Romeo three-bladed variable-pitch type. Equipment includes a retractable landing light and com- plete electrical gear. The normal armament is three 12.7 mm. Breda SAFAT machine guns. One of these is fixed and fires from a point above the pilot's cabin; of the other two, one is on a mounting on top of the fuselage, and the second below the fuselage. That above the fuselage, when not in use, is covered by a streamlined fairing which gives the machine a humped-backed appear- ance. A fourth gun (probably 7.7 mm.) can be mounted as optional equipment on a sliding mounting in- side the rear section of the fuselage. This can be fired through a window on either side of the fuselage. If attacked by our manoeuvrable, heavily armed fighters it is unlikely that the S.M.79 could make much of a show- ing, as its size and high wing-loading make it comparatively unmanoeuvrable for the employment of the fixed gun, and the bulk and weight of the free weapons and the fact that these are on manually operated mountings render them difficult to fire at any appreciable angle out of the line of flight. Being of heavy calibre, their rate of fire is quite slow, though the effect of a hit from a 12.7 mm. bullet might under certain circumstances be appreciably greater than from a pro- jectile of rifle calibre. A total bomb load of 2,755 lb. is car- ried, vertically stowed, in the fuselage. Typical loads would be two bombs of 1,100 lb., or five bombs of 550 lb., or twelve 4 r mm, •mi bombs of 320 lb. S.M.79B Although the makers claim that the bomb-aiming facilities on the S.M.79 are ade- quate, the nose engine must be a handicap. Better facilities are pro- vided in a twin- engined version with a redesigned nose designated the S.M.79B. This type is not used in quan- Savoia - MarchettiS.M.85 single-seater twin - engined dive-bombers. The diving brakes are lowered to90 deg. and enable bombing attacks tobe made at any angle up to the vertical. tity by the Italian Air Force, but has been supplied to the Argentine Government, Rumania, and Iraq Fitted with two Fiat A8o RC41 engines, the S.M.79B attains a top speed of 254 m.p.h. and climbs to 13,000ft. in 16 min. 40 sec. When the writer was in Milan in October, 1937, he was told of a projected version of the S.M.79B fitted with 1,400 h.p. Alfa Romeo radials. He also learned that during demonstrations before the Argentine Government a question was raised as to the manoeuvrability of the S.M.79B and that the Savoia pilot executed four or five loops. •'•'•• S.M.81 Despite its designation, th# S.M.81 is an older and slower type than the S.M.79. It, too, was developed from a civil type, the S.M.73, and its per- formance is inferior to that of our obsolete Handley Page Harrow. The S.M.81 is a three-engined low- wing monoplane of larger dimensions than the S.M.79 and with a fixed undercarriage. In a number of respects it has an outward resemblance to the Junkers Ju 52, but it is, of course, of mixed construction. The wing is of wood, and the fuselage of welded chrome-molybdenum steel tubes with fabric covering. Some of the S.M.8is in service have 700 h.p. Piaggio Stella IX RC radials, others have Gnome-Rhone K14S, and the remainder Alfa Romeo Pegasus- type engines. In no case does the top speed exceed 200-210 m.p.h. The normal armament comprises two retractable and rotatable hydraulic turrets, one above and one below the fuselage. In addition there is pro- vision for a gun to fire through a window on the port or starboard side towards the rear of the fuselage. All guns are normally of 7.7 mm. calibre. Bombs are carried internally, and vertical or horizontal stowage can be provided. The bomb-aimer's position is semi-retractable and is locate.d behind the nose engine. Vibration
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