Savoia-Marchetti SM.85
| Savoia-Marchetti SM.85 | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Type: | Dive bombers |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
December 19, 1936 |
| Number of pieces: |
34 |
The Savoia-Marchetti SM.85 was a single-seat Italian dive bomber built by Savoia-Marchetti at the beginning of World War II .
history
The SM.85 was developed as part of a program for a twin-engined battle and dive fighter aircraft. The first prototype was tested in December 1936. Despite its insufficient rate of climb of 20 minutes at 5000 m and the low top speed, the Regia Aeronautica saw enough potential for further development and started series production. Further test flights through the Reparto Sperimentale Volo a Tuffo also showed many weaknesses. The aircraft were not really useful, especially in their intended role as dive bombers. Finally the production was stopped and the 34 SM.85 produced up to then came to the 96 ° Gruppo Tuffatori.
The 96 ° Gruppo Tuffatori was stationed in Pantelleria and was supposed to fight targets in Malta . The group carried out some missions over the Mediterranean until July 1940, but had no enemy contact. Only one machine was lost in a landing accident. At the end of summer 1940, the SM.85 were replaced by Junkers Ju 87s .
The unsuccessful SM.85 was further developed into the SM.86 .
construction
The wooden structure was equipped with two radial engines and air brakes.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| crew | 1 |
| length | 10.4 m |
| span | 14.0 m |
| height | 3.3 m |
| Wing area | 28.8 m² |
| Wing extension | 6.8 |
| Empty mass | 2950 kg |
| Takeoff mass | 7190 kg |
| Top speed | 368 km / h |
| Service ceiling | 6,500 m |
| Range | 870 km |
| Engines | 2 × Piaggio P.VII C.35 radial engines, each 343 kW |
| Armament | one or two 12.7 mm machine gun bomb load: 800 kg |
See also
literature
- Daniele Lembo: Lo Stuka Italiano: l'SM 85. Magazine Aerei Nella Storia Issue 18. Verlag West-ward edizioni, Parma, Italy 2001.
- David Mondey: The Hamlyn Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II . Bounty Books, London 2006. ISBN 0-7537-1460-4 .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b The dive bomber. (PDF) Flight International Magazin, June 14, 1943, p. 664 , accessed on May 15, 2010 (English).