Savoia-Marchetti S.79 Sparviero Torpedo-Bomber Units

Savoia-Marchetti S.79 Sparviero Torpedo-Bomber Units cover

Description

Italy's Sparviero (Sparrowhawk) saw combat with the Regia Aeronautica in France, Yugoslavia, Greece, North Africa, East Africa and in the Mediterranean versus the Royal Navy. Italy's most successful wartime bomber, the S.79 was also the most produced, with around 1370 built between 1936 and early 1944. Initially developed by Savoia-Marchetti as a transport aircraft it had evolved into a dedicated medium bomber by the time the S.79-I made its combat debut with the Aviazione Legionaria in the Spanish Civil War in 1936. The manufacturer then produced the S.79-II torpedo-bomber, fitted with 1000 hp Piaggio or Fiat radial engines in place of the original 780 hp Alfa Romeos. Entering service in 1939, the S.79-II saw much action over the next four years, particularly in its intended torpedo-bomber role against the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean. Indeed, the Sparviero crews tasked with targeting Allied shipping became national heroes in Italy thanks to their exploits, with men such as Buscaglia, Graziani, Erasi, Faggioni, Di Bella, Aichner and Cimicchi being as revered as fighter aces in other countries. Following Italy's surrender in September 1943, a large number of S.79s continued to see action against the Allies with the pro-German RSI, although they suffered heavy losses. This is the first of two proposed volumes on the S.79, the second book detailing its use as a bomber and transport.

Table of Contents

1940
1941
1942
1943
1944-45
Appendices
A) S.79 RA and ANR units
B) Awards to notable Italian S.79 torpedo-bomber pilots
C) S.79 torpedo-bomber warship victories
D) S.79 torpedo-bombers merchant ship victories
E) Colour Plates Commentary

Product details

Published Oct 21 2014
Format Paperback
Edition 1st
Extent 96
ISBN 9781782008071
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Dimensions 248 x 184 mm
Series Combat Aircraft
Short code COM 106
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Marco Mattioli

A native of Rome, Marco Mattioli has been interest…

Illustrator

Richard Caruana

Richard Caruana is a Malta-based artist whose prof…

Illustrator

Mark Postlethwaite

Mark Postlethwaite was born in Leicestershire in 1…

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