The "Regia Aeronautica" frequently used torpedo bombers to air-launch torpedoes, such as the trimotor SIAI-Marchetti SM.79 "Sparviero" medium bomber. These had some success in the early war years, inflicting considerable losses on Allied shipping in the Mediterranean. By late 1942 the aging "Sparviero" was facing continually improving Allied fighters and anti aircraft defences, leading to the Italian general staff exploring the idea of using well-powered, single-engined heavy fighters to deliver torpedoes – a concept known later as the "torpedo fighter". Such aircraft, based near the Italian coast, could potentially have an operational range of 300–400 km (190–250 mi), would be capable of carrying a 680 kg (1,500 lb) torpedo (a shorter and more compact version of a weapon carried by the SM.79) at relatively high speed, and would also be better able to evade enemy fighters and/or combat them on equal terms.