SM.84

The SIAI‑Marchetti SM.84 was an Italian three‑engine medium bomber developed in the late 1930s as a successor to the SM.79. First flown in February 1940, the aircraft entered service with Regia Aeronautica in 1941, seeing action over the Mediterranean, North Africa and the Balkans. Its design combined a low‑wing monoplane layout with a reinforced steel‑tube fuselage, a retractable undercarriage and a glazed nose for a bombardier. Powered by three Alfa Romeo 128 RC.18 radial engines delivering about 860 hp each, the SM.84 could reach a top speed of 470 km/h, carry up to 1,200 kg of bombs, and was equipped with defensive armament of multiple 12.7 mm machine guns in dorsal, ventral and tail positions. Although intended to replace the more agile SM.79, the SM.84 suffered from heavier weight and less maneuverability, leading to mixed operational results. Nevertheless, it represented one of the last attempts by Italy to field a modern, multi‑role combat aircraft before the country’s industrial capacity collapsed in 1943. Its limited production—only around 150 airframes—makes the SM.84 a relatively rare example of transitional wartime aviation design. A few surviving examples are displayed in museums in Italy, preserving its role in the evolution of Italian aeronautics.

SIAI-Marchetti

Classification

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Design & Classification