Savoia-Marchetti SM.92

SM.92 was a heavy fighter/bomber based on the Savoia-Marchetti SM.88. The SM.92 did away with the mid-wing crew nacelle. The crew of two sat in the left fuselage only. Two DB 605 engines were fitted.

Armament consisted of three 20 mm MG 151 cannon, two in the mid-wing and one in the right fuselage, and three 12.7 mm machine guns, one under each engine, and one remotely controlled in the tail. A bombload of up to 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) could be carried under the inner wing, and 160 kg (350 lb) bombs were carried under the outer wings.

The maximum speed was increased, but still did not meet that required. It had a complex and advanced structure which contributed to difficulties in producing a working prototype. The prototype MM.531 flew for the first time in October 1943 and logged over 21 hours of flight time. In March 1944 it was mistaken for a P-38 Lightning and attacked by a Macchi C.205. The aircraft survived by performing evasive manoeuvres, but it was so badly damaged that it was grounded for months. The SM.92 was destroyed by Allied bombing in 1944.

Specifications (SM.92)

SM.92 rear view

General characteristics

• Crew: 2, pilot and rear gunner
• Length: 13.7 m (44 ft 11 in)
• Wingspan: 18.55 m (60 ft 10 in)
• Height: 4.15 m (13 ft 7 in)
• Wing area: 38.52 m² (414.5 ft²)
• Empty weight: 5,900 kg (12,980 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × Daimler-Benz DB 605 liquid-cooled supercharged inverted V12 engines, () each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 615 km/h (332 kn, 382 mph) at 6,700 m (21,976 ft)
• Range: 2,000 km (1,080 nmi, 1,243 mi)
• Service ceiling: 12,000 m (39,360 ft)
  
• Climb to 6,000 m (19,680 ft): 7 min. 10 sec.

• 3 × 20 mm MG 151 cannons
• 3 × 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns
• Up to 2,000 kg (4,409 lb) bombload

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• de Havilland Mosquito
• de Havilland Hornet
• Grumman F7F Tigercat
• Heinkel He 111Z-1
• Heinkel He 219
• Messerschmitt Bf 109Z "Zwilling"
• Messerschmitt Me 609
• Northrop P-61 Black Widow
• North American F-82 Twin Mustang

Related lists

• List of aircraft of Italy, World War II

References

• Lembo, Daniele, I bifusoliera della Regia, Storia militare magazine, Westward editions, n.11, April-May 2000 (Italian)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Savoia-Marchetti.

• SM.91 & SM.92