Reading level:

Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero

Savoia-Marchetti · Torpedo Bomber / Medium Bomber / Torpedo Bombing / Anti-Shipping Strike · Italy · WWII (1939–1945)

Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero — Torpedo Bomber / Medium Bomber / Torpedo Bombing / Anti-Shipping Strike
Open in interactive gallery →

The Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero ("Sparrowhawk") was an Italian three-engine medium bomber — Regia Aeronautica's principal WWII bomber + one of the best torpedo bombers of WWII. Alessandro Marchetti designed the SM.79 in 1934 as a civilian airliner before military conversion; the prototype first flew on 28 September 1934. About 1,330 SM.79s were built between 1937 and 1944 at Savoia-Marchetti + IMAM + SAI Ambrosini. The aircraft served Regia Aeronautica + Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana + Spanish Air Force + Lebanese Air Force 1937-1959.

The SM.79-II (torpedo bomber variant) used 3 × Piaggio P.XI RC 40 9-cylinder radial engines (1,000 hp each). Maximum speed 460 km/h, range 1,900 km, service ceiling 7,500 m. Armament: 5 × 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns + 2 × 450 mm Whitehead torpedoes (or 1,250 kg of bombs). Crew: 5. The aircraft's distinctive humped fuselage (housing the bombardier's compartment + dorsal gun position) earned it the nickname "il gobbo maledetto" ("the damned hunchback") from Italian crews. The 3-engine layout gave the SM.79 better range + payload than contemporary 2-engine bombers + improved single-engine-out survivability.

SM.79 service was concentrated on Mediterranean + East African + Atlantic anti-shipping operations 1940-1943. The aircraft achieved Italian's most-large WWII bomber kills — sinking ~17 Allied ships (including HMS Manchester cruiser June 1942) and damaging ~30 more through torpedo + level-bombing attacks. Italian SM.79 ace Carlo Faggioni achieved the most torpedo bomber kills of any pilot in WWII. About 5 SM.79 airframes survive in 2026 at Italian museums.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Savoia-Marchetti SM-79 Sparviero was an Italian bomber plane from World War Two. Its name means "Sparrowhawk" in Italian. It was one of the best torpedo bombers in the whole war. Five crew members flew and operated it together.

Alessandro Marchetti first designed it in 1934 as a passenger plane. It was later changed into a military bomber. The first test flight happened on September 28, 1934. About 1,330 of these planes were built between 1937 and 1944.

The SM-79 had three engines instead of the usual two. This made it faster than many other bombers of its time. Three engines also gave it a longer range and helped it keep flying even if one engine stopped working. It could reach a top speed of about 460 kilometers per hour.

The plane had a big hump on top of its body. This hump held a gun position and a special compartment for the bomber crew member. Italian pilots called it "il gobbo maledetto," which means "the damned hunchback." The hump made the plane look very different from other aircraft.

The SM-79 could carry two large torpedoes or a heavy load of bombs. It was used mostly over the Mediterranean Sea. It served in several air forces all the way until 1959.

Fun Facts

  • The SM-79 Sparviero's name means "Sparrowhawk" — a small but fierce hunting bird.
  • The plane was first designed as a passenger airliner before it became a bomber.
  • Italian crews gave it the nickname "the damned hunchback" because of its humped back.
  • The SM-79 had three engines, which was bigger than most bombers that used only two.
  • Over 1,300 of these planes were built, making it one of Italy's most important warplanes.
  • The SM-79 could fly nearly 1,900 kilometers on a single trip — longer than the whole Italian peninsula twice over.
  • It could carry two heavy torpedoes at once to attack enemy ships at sea.
  • The SM-79 kept flying in some air forces for over 20 years after World War Two ended.

Kids’ Questions

Why did the SM-79 have three engines?

Most bombers back then used only two engines. The SM-79's three engines gave it a longer range and a heavier payload. If one engine stopped working, the plane could still fly home safely on the other two.

What does "Sparviero" mean?

"Sparviero" is the Italian word for "Sparrowhawk." A sparrowhawk is a fast and powerful hunting bird. It was a fitting name for a fast and dangerous bomber plane.

Why did pilots call it "the hunchback"?

The SM-79 had a large hump on top of its fuselage, which is the main body of the plane. The hump held a gun and a special compartment for the crew. Italian pilots thought it looked like a hunchback, so the nickname stuck.

How long was the SM-79 used?

The SM-79 first flew in 1934 and some air forces kept using it all the way until 1959. That means it was in service for about 25 years. It served in several countries, including Italy, Spain, and Lebanon.

Variants

SM.79-I (initial bomber)
Original land-based bomber. About 400 built.
SM.79-II (torpedo bomber)
Refined torpedo-bomber variant. About 700 built.
SM.79-III (final)
Final variant. About 200 built.

Notable Operators

Regia Aeronautica (1937-1943)
Principal user. Mediterranean + East African + Atlantic anti-shipping operations.
Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana (1943-1945)
Italian Social Republic Air Force continuing combat use through war's end.
Spanish + Lebanese Air Forces
Postwar operators. Spanish CASA-built variants through 1959.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the SM.79 called the damned hunchback?

Italian crews called the SM.79 "il gobbo maledetto" ("the damned hunchback") because of the aircraft's distinctive humped fuselage profile. The hump housed the bombardier's compartment + dorsal gun position above the wing — necessary because the 3-engine layout meant the central engine + nose were already occupied. The hump gave the SM.79 a visually-distinctive silhouette that no other WWII bomber shared.

Did SM.79s sink Allied ships?

Yes — about 17 confirmed sinkings + 30 damaged. The most-famous Italian torpedo-bomber success was the 12-13 August 1942 attack on Operation Pedestal (Malta convoy WS-21S) in which SM.79s + Italian S.84 torpedo bombers sank or crippled multiple Allied ships including HMS Manchester (cruiser, 13 August 1942). Italian SM.79 ace Carlo Faggioni achieved more torpedo bomber kills than any pilot in WWII.

Sources

See Also