PDF Twenty-First Century Jihad: Law; Society and Military Action (Library of Modern Religion) by Ewan Stein; Elizabeth Kendall in History

Description

Italy's Sparviero (Sparrowhawk) saw combat with the Regia Aeronautica in France; Yugoslavia; Greece; North Africa; East Africa and in the Mediterranean versus the Royal Navy. Italy's most successful wartime bomber; the S.79 was also the most produced; with around 1370 built between 1936 and early 1944. Initially developed by Savoia-Marchetti as a transport aircraft it had evolved into a dedicated medium bomber by the time the S.79-I made its combat debut with the Aviazione Legionaria in the Spanish Civil War in 1936. The manufacturer then produced the S.79-II torpedo-bomber; fitted with 1000 hp Piaggio or Fiat radial engines in place of the original 780 hp Alfa Romeos. Entering service in 1939; the S.79-II saw much action over the next four years; particularly in its intended torpedo-bomber role against the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean. Indeed; the Sparviero crews tasked with targeting Allied shipping became national heroes in Italy thanks to their exploits; with men such as Buscaglia; Graziani; Erasi; Faggioni; Di Bella; Aichner and Cimicchi being as revered as fighter aces in other countries. Following Italy's surrender in September 1943; a large number of S.79s continued to see action against the Allies with the pro-German RSI; although they suffered heavy losses. This is the first of two proposed volumes on the S.79; the second book detailing its use as a bomber and transport.