IMAM Ro.57

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Ro.57
Type Fighter/Dive bomber
Manufacturer Industrie Meccaniche e Aeronautiche Meridionali (IMAM)
Designed by Giovanni Galasso
Introduced 1943
Primary user Regia Aeronautica
Number built 50-75

The IMAM Ro.57 was an Italian twin-engined, single-seat monoplane fighter of the Regia Aeronautica. Based on a 1939 design by Giovanni Galasso the aircraft did not enter production until 1943. By the time it entered service it was considered obsolete.

Two hundred aircraft were ordered, but only 50-75 were produced in two versions, one flown as an interceptor, the other in the role of a ground attack aircraft.[1]

Contents

[edit] Design and development

The Ro.57 was preceded by another twin engine fighter design, the Ro.53, which never entered production. The Ro.57 consisted of an all metal, semi-monocoque fuselage with a steel skeleton and Duralumin structure. The wings were also Duralumin.

Powered by two 840 hp Fiat A.74 radial engines giving a maximum speed of 516 km/h, which in 1939 was better than that of the main Italian fighter, the Macchi C.200 (504 km/h). After testing at Guidonia it was proposed by IMAM for use as a dive bomber. This transformation, which involved the addition of dive brakes, provision for 500 kg bombs and an improved forward firing armament (adding two 20 mm cannon)[2], took time and delayed production. The resulting aircraft was designated the Ro.57bis. Performance dropped to 457 km/h maximum speed and to 350 km/h at cruise speed. The Ro.57bis was ordered into production in 1942 and entered service with the 97° Gruppo in 1943. About 50-60 aircraft were delivered.[3]

It is said that the Ro.57 could had been the long range interceptor that Italy lacked throughout the war. It proved to be too costly for the limited weapons it carried and it never was assigned a clear role[citation needed].

[edit] Ro.58 prototype

First flown in May of 1942, the Ro.58 was considered a general improvement over the Ro.57, mainly due to the substitution of higher horsepower DB 601 engines for the Fiats. Initially it had many problems and during the flight only the proficiency of the test pilot, Adriano Mantelli, saved the plane[citation needed].

It was easily recognizable due to the fact that it appeared to have a long hump over the fuselage (to accommodate two crew members as opposed to one in the Ro.57). The Ro.58 was a twin-tailed aircraft, in appearance similar to the Bf 110.

The performance of the aircraft with the DB 601 engines was much better than even many single engine fighters of the time (605 km/h at 5,000 m, 1,500 km endurance, 10,500 ceiling).

More heavily armed than its predecessor, with five forward-firing MG 151s; three in the nose and two under the belly (the underbelly guns were not present during the first flight tests) and one 12.7 mm rear-facing Breda-SAFAT machine gun.

Tested alongside an Me 410 it was found to be superior[citation needed], but even so it initially had its share of problems that delayed production. By the time it was refined it was too late for Italy, and there were no resources even for single-engine fighters, much less the more expensive twin-engined ones.

As the Ro.57 was not put into production in 1940 or 1941 when it was first considered possible, the Ro.58, better armed and faster appeared only when it was too late, and Italy was for the most part out of the war[citation needed].

[edit] Variants

Ro.57
Single seat fighter with Fiat A.74 radial engines, and two 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns
Ro.57bis
Single seat dive bomber version, fitted with two additional 20 mm cannon
Ro.58
Two-seat aircraft, fitted with DB 601 engines, upgunned with five forward MG 151 cannon and a rear 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun

[edit] Operators

[edit] Specifications (Ro.57)

Data from Warplanes of the Second World War, Fighters Volume 2 [2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: One
  • Length: 8.80 m (28 ft 10½ in)
  • Wingspan: 12.50 m (41 ft 0 in)
  • Height: 2.90 m (9 ft 6⅛ in)
  • Wing area: 23.0 m² (248 ft²)
  • Empty weight: 3,497 kg (7,694 lb)
  • Loaded weight: 5,000 kg (11,000 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2× Fiat A.74 R.C.38 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engines, 627 kW (840 hp) each

Performance

Armament

[edit] References

  1. ^ Angelucci, Enzo (2001). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft 1914 to the Present. Edison, NJ: Chartwell books, 232-233. ISBN 0-7858-1359-4. 
  2. ^ a b Green, William (1961). Warplanes of the Second World War, Fighters Volume 2. London: Macdonald, p. 153-154. 
  3. ^ Green, W; Swanborough, G (1994). The Complete Book of Fighters. Smithmark. ISBN 0-8317-3939-8. 
  • Lembo, Daniele Officine Ferroviarie Meridionali IMAM, Aerei nella Storia magazine n.34 Nov 2003, Delta editions, Parma. (Italian)

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

Comparable aircraft

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