Savoia-Marchetti SM.85
| Industry | Aerospace, Defense |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1915 in Italy |
| Headquarters | Italy |
| Products | Aircraft |
The Savoia-Marchetti SM.85 was an Italian single-engine monoplane designed as a dive bomber and ground-attack aircraft, which saw limited service with the Regia Aeronautica at the onset of World War II. It was soon phased out and replaced by the Junkers Ju 87.
Design and development
The SM.85 originated from a Regia Aeronautica initiative aimed at creating a twin-engine monoplane dive bomber, inspired by concepts developed over two decades earlier by American General Billy Mitchell. These ideas were enthusiastically embraced by Colonel Amedeo Mecozzi, who also contributed to the design of the Breda Ba.64 and related aircraft.[1]
This aircraft featured a wooden structure with a high-mid wing arrangement and a rectangular fuselage cross-section. It incorporated retractable landing gear complemented by a fixed tailwheel and was powered by two Piaggio P.VII C.35 engines. The wooden wings contained three main spars and were covered with fabric. To optimize pilot visibility, the cockpit included a transparent panel set into its floor.[1]
The SM.85 could carry a useful load of up to 1,150 kg (2,540 lb), which included provisions for mounting a 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine gun loaded with between 300 and 500 rounds. A distinctive feature was the ability to use its flaps as airbrakes during dive attacks. Bombs were housed in a parallelogram-shaped bay beneath the fuselage. It could deliver either a 500 kg (1,100 lb) bomb or, on short-range sorties only, an 800 kg (1,760 lb) bomb—the heaviest ordinance available in Italian air service at that time.[1]
At maximum load, with a takeoff weight of approximately 4,000 kg (8,820 lb), the climb to an altitude of 5,000 m (16,400 ft) took around 20 minutes. However, engines often failed to reach their rated power on startup, resulting in slower-than-expected performance. Takeoff distance required was roughly 433 m (1,421 ft), while landing needed about 415 m (1,362 ft). The service ceiling ranged between 6,000 and 6,500 m (19,690–21,330 ft), with an operational range of approximately 756–827 km (470–514 mi). Maximum velocity reached was around 367 km/h (228 mph) at an altitude of 4,000 m (13,123 ft). Fuel capacity totaled about 1,078 liters (285 US gallons), stored in four self-sealing tanks. When carrying the maximum bomb load of 500 kg (1,100 lb), it could not take off fully fueled (approximately 730 kg/1,610 lb), limiting full fuel loads to ferry flights only.[1]
The prototype first flew in December 1936. Despite underwhelming speed and climb rates during trials, the Regia Aeronautica believed there was potential for further refinement and proceeded with production orders. Nevertheless, ongoing testing by the Reparto Sperimentale Volo a Tuffo revealed persistent shortcomings: uncontrollable spins occurred frequently, climb performance after dives remained poor, and stability during dives was unsatisfactory.[1]
Production ceased after completing just 34 units, which were assigned to form the 96° Gruppo Tuffatori (96th Independent Dive-Bomber Group).
Though the SM.85 program is often regarded as one of Savoia-Marchetti's less successful wartime efforts, British intelligence considered it a credible threat. They mistakenly interpreted "tuffatori" as indicating potential suicide missions targeting their naval vessels.[1]
Ultimately, the SM.85 found use primarily as a dive-bombing trainer rather than an effective combat aircraft due to insufficient engine power limiting its operational capabilities. Even with the subsequent development of the SM.86 featuring more powerful engines, improvements arrived too late to impact wartime service significantly. One example was converted into a two-seat trainer variant as part of a development path leading to the advanced SM.93, an innovative design featuring high-speed performance and a prone pilot position. However, this project began too late for mass production—an issue common among Savoia-Marchetti's "series 90" designs. In hindsight, these SM dive bombers did not meet expectations and are considered failures in their role.
Operational history
In June 1940, the 96° Gruppo Tuffatori was redeployed to Pantelleria, a small island near Sicily, in preparation for planned assaults on Malta and the British naval forces in the Mediterranean. The unit's leader, Maggiore Ercolano Ercolani, expressed serious concerns to the General Staff, stating that the aircraft’s combat performance would inevitably lead to complete losses. To substantiate his claim, Ercolani offered to pilot the aircraft personally.[1] Prior to the relocation to Pantelleria, these planes had not suffered any casualties; however, shortly after the move, one aircraft collided with a wall, resulting in the pilot’s death. The remaining aircraft conducted several sorties over the Mediterranean until late July but were never engaged in actual combat.
Soon after, the aircraft was withdrawn from active duty and dismantled. Consequently, the Regia Aeronautica was compelled to procure Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers from Germany, which were swiftly integrated into service by the end of summer 1940. Although speed and other performance metrics between these two aircraft were relatively close—with the Ju 87 featuring a rear gunner—the German dive bomber proved significantly more effective in combat.[1]
Despite modifications such as new airbrakes, flaps, and other enhancements, this newer model still fell short compared to the Ju 87’s operational capabilities. Additionally, a redesigned cockpit limited the pilot’s rear and lateral visibility. The only slight advantage over the Ju 87 was its twin-engine layout; however, each engine’s modest power output meant that losing one engine jeopardized safe return. The air-cooled engine design eliminated radiators and their associated vulnerabilities—improving aerodynamics, reducing costs, and lowering weight—but at low speeds with restricted airflow, overheating remained a persistent problem.[1] The SM.86 could reach speeds 32 km/h (20 mph) higher than the Junkers Ju 87B and even surpassed the Ju 87D by 2 km/h (1.2 mph); nonetheless, these speed advantages were negligible when faced with enemy fighters. With limited all-around visibility and lacking a second crew member armed with a defensive machine gun (as well as no forward-firing weapons), the SM.86 was distinctly more susceptible to attacks from hostile fighters compared to the Junkers.
Variants
- SM.85
- Produced in a total of 34 units, including prototypes. The initial two prototypes were followed by 10 B versions featuring reduced engine cowling rings, constructed in March 1939. Subsequently, 22 C models were manufactured between July and December 1939 (serial numbers MM 21689-21707 and 21847-21849). These C variants incorporated a "San Giorgio" reflector gunsight and could be equipped with either a 7.7 mm (0.303 in) or a 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine gun. Due to the limited production run, further development of this type was curtailed.
- SM.86
- Originating from the SM.85 design, the SM.86 took to the skies for the first time on 8 April 1939, powered by 447 kW (600 hp) Walter Sagitta inline engines manufactured in Czechoslovakia. This aircraft represented a completely new design with only slight resemblance to its predecessor. Key specifications included a wing area of 30.8 m2 (331.5 ft2), length of 10.9 m (36 ft), height of 3.35 m (11 ft), wingspan measuring 14 m (46 ft), an empty weight of 3,300 kg (7,275 lb), and a payload capacity of 1,720 kg (3,790 lb)—approximately 50% greater than that of the SM.85—allowing it to carry fuel and bombs simultaneously. Performance figures comprised a top speed of 412 km/h (256 mph) at an altitude of 4,000 m (13,120 ft), cruising speed of 336 km/h (209 mph) at 5,000 m (16,400 ft), and a climb time to 4,000 m in 14 minutes and 17 seconds.
- The SM.86 bore a strong resemblance to the Henschel Hs 129 in terms of appearance, weight, and performance; however, their operational roles differed significantly since the SM.86 lacked heavy armor and cannon armament for ground attack missions. It shared some design features with the de Havilland Mosquito, such as a compact forward cockpit, inline engines, high-mounted wings, and wooden construction.
- During evaluation at Guidonia in 1939, the SM.86 showed promise; nevertheless, an order for 97 units was canceled in April 1940 despite the urgent requirement for dive bombers within a wing unit. Although exhibiting improved overall capabilities, only one aircraft was ultimately completed and deployed over Malta and Greece. Savoia-Marchetti pursued contracts for this model, but after the test aircraft was shot down by a Ju 87, official interest waned. Development persisted without formal backing until its termination in 1941. A second prototype equipped with 403 kW (540 hp) Isotta Fraschini Gamma engines first flew in August 1941; however, the program was soon abandoned thereafter.
Operators
Specifications (SM.85)
References
Further reading
- Donald, David. The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Leicester, UK: Blitz Editions, 1997. ISBN 1-85605-375-X
- Lembo, Daniele. "Lo Stuka Italiano: l'SM 85." Aerei Nella Storia n.18. Parma, Italy: West-ward edizioni, 2001.
- Mondey, David. The Hamlyn Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II. London: Bounty Books, 2006. ISBN 0-7537-1460-4.
External links
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