Main Menu
Italy's Savoia-Marchetti S.M.81 medium bomber1
Savoia-Marchetti S.M.81 Pipistrello (bat) bomber2
Savoia-Marchetti S.M.81 Pipistrello medium bomber2:
Savoia-Marchetti S.M.81 medium bomber:
Savoia-Marchetti S.M.81 medium bomber:
Savoia-Marchetti S.M.81 Pipistrello medium bomber dropping its load of bombs:
Design
The Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 was developed from the SM.73 transport.1,2
Prototype
The prototype of the SM.81 first appeared in 1934.1
The first S.M.81 flew on February 8, 1935.2
Production
- S.M.81: 5352
- S.M.81B: 12
- Total: 5362
Variants
- S.M.81: Production model.1 Had Piaggio P.X radial engines (670 HP).1
- S.M.81B: Experimental.2 Had two Isotta-Fraschini Asso XI RC engines (840 HP).2
Usage
Italy and Spain used the S.M.81s.2
Ethiopia
S.M.81s were used in the bombing of Ethiopian troops.1
Spanish Civil War
Starting in 1936 the S.M.81 was used in the Spanish Civil War.1,2 They were used to transport General Franco's troops from North Africa.2
Start of World War II
There were ~3002 / 304 S.M.81s in service with Italy in June 1940.1,2 In the Mediterranean there were 147 and 59 in East Africa.1
Somaliland
The 4° and 29° Gruppi were used in raids on Khartoum, Port Sudan, and Aden.1
Use in the Mediterranean
The 39° Stormo used S.M.81s to attack the British fleet.1 In the Western Desert the S.M.81s were used primarily as transports.1
The S.M.81s were often used as nighttime bombers.2
Mussolini
Benito Mussolini used a modified S.M.81 as his personal transport.2
The Units
The following bomber Stormi were equipped with S.M.81s: 7°, 8°, 9°, 14°, 15°, 37°, 38°, 39°1
The following transport Stormo was equipped with the S.M.81: 18°1
Post World War II
Some of the S.M.81s served in the Aeronautica Militare Italiana until 1951.2
| Savoia-Marchetti S.M.81 Pipistrello2 | Savoia-Marchetti S.M.81 Series 51 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Bomber2 Transport2 |
Medium bomber1 |
| Crew | 62 | 51 |
| Passengers | 18 troopers2 | |
| Engine (Type) | 3: Piaggio P.X RC 352 | 3: Alfa Romeo 126 RC 34 piston1 |
| OR | 3: Alfa Romeo 125 RC 352 | |
| OR | 3: Alfa Romeo 126 RC 342 | |
| OR | 3: Piaggio P.IX2 | |
| OR | 3: Gnome-Rhône 142 | |
| Cylinders | Piaggio 35: Radial 92 Gnome-Rhône: Radial2 |
Radial1 |
| HP | Piaggio 35: 700 each2 125: 580 each2 126: 900 each2 Piaggio P.IX: 560 each2 Gnome-Rhône: 680 each2 |
780 each1 |
| Cooling | ||
| Propeller blades | 3 each2 | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Span | 78' 9"2 24 m2 |
78' 8.75"1 24 m1 |
| Length | 58' 4.75"2 17.8 m2 |
64' 3"1 19.58 m1 |
| Height | 14' 7.25"2 4.45 m2 |
14' 4"1 4.37 m1 |
| Wing area | 1,001.1 ft2 1 93 m2 1 |
|
| Weight | ||
| Empty | 13,900 lb2 6,305 kg2 |
14,991 lb1 6,800 kg1 |
| Loaded | 20,503 - 23,040 lb2 9,300 - 10,450 kg2 |
23,148 lb1 10,500 kg1 |
| Performance | P.X engines2 | |
| Speed @ 3,280' / 1,000 m |
211 mph2 340 kph2 |
|
| Speed @ 16,405' / 5,000 m |
209 mph1 336 kph1 |
|
| Climb to 9,840' / 3,000 m |
12 minutes2 | |
| Climb to 16,405' / 5,000 m |
19.27 minutes1 | |
| Service ceiling | 22,965'2 7,000 m2 |
21,600'1 6,600 m1 |
| Range | 1,243 miles2 2,000 km2 |
1,243 miles1 2,000 km1 |
| Armament | Up to 6: 7.7 mm MG2 | |
| Dorsal turret | 2: 7.7 mm Breda SAFAT MG1 | |
| Ventral turret | 2: 7.7 mm Breda SAFAT MG1 | |
| Beam | 2: 7.7 mm Breda SAFAT MG1 | |
| Bombs | 2,205 lb2 1,000 kg2 |
4: 1,102 lb1 4: 500 kg1 |
Sources:
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
