What are your thoughts? - SM.91

[tx141 815]

Hi All,

 

This week, I thought I would review the SM.91 (Tier IV; Battle Rating 3.7 Italian Heavy Fighter). Below you will find both my video review (including the history behind the Savoia-Marchetti SM.91 from its inception through to the fate of its two prototypes) and a summary of my review in bullet-point form:

 

SM.91 - Go Head-on First and Ask Questions Later

Summary:

 

• Plentiful offensive firepower – No aircraft will be able to withstand a brief, accurate burst from the SM.91’s six offensive 20mm MG151 cannon which have plenty of ammunition to go around. This makes the plane ideal for both dispatching bombers; and using head-ons to confront those fighters who seek to bring it down.
• Boom and Zoom potential – With its decent energy retention in the vertical, the SM.91 can conduct Boom and Zoom strikes with relative comfort against unsuspecting opposition. If pursued following the dive, the SM.91 can use its maximum dive speed of 938km/h and above average straight-line energy retention to swiftly return to friendly skies.
• High-altitude performance – With its maximum altitude limits being 6000m and 7000m for its engines and controls respectively, the SM.91 is well-suited to the role of high-altitude interceptor. Additionally, the plane may use these higher altitudes to escape from opponents who perform better at lower altitudes (e.g. Yak-3; P-51 etc.). 
• Needs time – With its relatively poor straight-line acceleration and high ideal speed range of 400-500km/h, the SM.91 will require a significant amount of time to build up to its ideal performance. This time may not always be available depending on the opposition encountered, and the screening forces offered by your team.
• Poor turn-fighter – The average turn-circle of the SM.91 is undermined by its horizontal energy retention being weak outside of a standard turn; and its control surfaces being below average as a whole. As a typical turn-fight will involve more than just a standard turn, this can quickly lead to the SM.91 ending up in its opponent’s gun-sight.

 

Final Thought:

 

The SM.91 lives up to its design specification of being a heavy fighter that possesses heavy firepower. With six offensive 20mm cannon and one defensive 20mm cannon, the SM.91 can unleash an extreme amount of damage in a short space of time. When this is combined with the plane’s sustained high-altitude performance, the aircraft makes for a lethal interceptor. Yet, this comes at the cost of the plane’s ability to combat those fighters or heavy fighters which aim to intercept it when friendly screening forces are absent, encouraging one to go head-on first and ask questions later.

 

And now over to you: what are your thoughts on this Heavy Fighter?

 

Next time:

 

I-15 M-22 or F2A-1 Buffalo?

 

Be sure to let me know which one you want me to review using the above poll. Poll closes 1200 GMT 17/03/2019.

 

As always, take care and good luck in the skies.

 

Paul "tx141" Walsh 

[Guest flat_eric]

Sorry Paul, I had to vote for the Buffalo.

[tx141 815]

7 hours ago, flat_eric said:

Sorry Paul, I had to vote for the Buffalo.

 

No need to apologise, it's a free vote!