{{Short description|Italian fighter/attack aircraft}} {{More citations needed|date=November 2007}} {{Infobox aircraft | name = Ro.57 | image = Italian IMAM Ro.57 fighter prototype front quarter view.jpg | image_border = | caption = The first IMAM Ro.57 prototype, MM-407 | type = Fighter, attacker | national_origin = Italy | manufacturer = Industrie Meccaniche e Aeronautiche Meridionali (IMAM) | designer = Giovanni Galasso | first_flight = 1939 | introduction = 1943 | retired = | status = Retired | primary_user = ''Regia Aeronautica'' | more_users = | produced = | number_built = 50 + 1 prototype<ref>[http://www.alieuomini.it/catalogo/dettaglio_catalogo/imam_ro,37.html IMAM Ro.57]</ref> | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = IMAM Ro.58 }}

[[File:Italian IMAM Ro.57 fighter prototype rear quarter view.jpg|thumb|The first Ro.57 prototype, MM-407.]] thumb|Ro.57''bis'' thumb|Ro.57''bis'' thumb|Ro.57''bis'' 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.

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.<ref>{{cite book |last= Angelucci|first= Enzo |title= The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft 1914 to the Present |year= 2001 |publisher= Chartwell books |location= Edison, NJ |pages= 232–233 |isbn= 0-7858-1359-4 }}</ref>

== 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. It was powered by two {{convert|840|hp|abbr=on}} Fiat A.74 radial engines giving a maximum speed of 516&nbsp;km/h, which in 1939 was faster than that of the main Italian fighter, the Macchi C.200 (504&nbsp;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 and provision for 500&nbsp;kg bombs took time and delayed production. The resulting aircraft was designated the '''Ro.57bis'''. Performance dropped to 466&nbsp;km/h maximum speed<ref name="Ministero dell'Aeronautica">{{cite book |last= Ministero dell'Aeronautica |title= Velivolo RO. 57 bimotore da bombardamento a tuffo |year= 1943}}</ref> and to 350&nbsp;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.<ref name="complete fighters">{{cite book |last= Green|first= W |author2=Swanborough, G |title= The Complete Book of Fighters |year= 1994|publisher= Smithmark |isbn= 0-8317-3939-8}}</ref> It is said that the Ro.57 could have 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|date=November 2007}}. A better-armed version with more powerful engines was developed as the Ro.58.

==Variants== ;Ro.57 :Single-seat fighter with Fiat A.74 radial engines, and two 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns ;Ro.57bis :The dive bombing variant fitted with dive brakes, only one 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun on the first 40 units built, increased to two on subsequent units, a crutch for bombs up to {{cvt|1000|kg|0|order=flip}} under the fuselage and two hardpoint for bombs up to {{cvt|160|kg|0|order=flip}} under the wings.<ref name="Ministero dell'Aeronautica">{{cite book |last= Ministero dell'Aeronautica |title= Velivolo RO. 57 bimotore da bombardamento a tuffo |year= 1943}}</ref> ;Ro.57bis "Quadriarma" : A single unit (MM.75315) was equipped with what was to become the definitive armament, that is, two 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns and two 20 mm autocannons.<ref name="I tuffatori di Crotone">{{cite book |last= Farina |first= Franco |title= I tuffatori di Crotone |year= 2000}}</ref>

==Operators== ; {{flagicon|Kingdom of Italy}} Kingdom of Italy * ''Regia Aeronautica''

==Specifications (Ro.57 Bis)== {{Aircraft specs |ref=''Velivolo RO. 57 bimotore da bombardamento a tuffo'' <ref name="Ministero dell'Aeronautica">{{cite book |last= Ministero dell'Aeronautica |title= Velivolo RO. 57 bimotore da bombardamento a tuffo |year= 1943}}</ref> |prime units?=met <!-- General characteristics --> |crew=1 |length m=8.83 |length note= |span m=12.5 |span note= |height m=2.99 |height note= |wing area sqm=23 |wing area note= |aspect ratio=6.79 |airfoil= |empty weight kg=3490 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg=4990 |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight kg= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity= |more general= <!-- Powerplant --> |eng1 number=2 |eng1 name=Fiat A.74 R.C.38 |eng1 type=14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines |eng1 kw=627 |eng1 sigfig=2 |eng1 note=

|prop blade number=<!-- propeller aircraft --> |prop name= |prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft --> |prop dia note= <!-- Performance --> |max speed kmh=466 |max speed note=at {{cvt|5000|m}} |cruise speed kmh=350 |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed note= |minimum control speed kmh= |minimum control speed note= |range km=930 |range note= |combat range km= |combat range note= |ferry range km= |ferry range note= |endurance=<!-- if range unknown --> |ceiling m=8850 |ceiling note= |g limits=<!-- aerobatic --> |roll rate=<!-- aerobatic --> |climb rate ms= |climb rate note= |time to altitude={{cvt|6000|m}} in 9 min 45 s |wing loading kg/m2=217 |wing loading note= |fuel consumption kg/km= |power/mass={{cvt|0.25|kW/kg}} |more performance= <!-- Armament --> |guns=<br> :*2 × 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns (1 x 12.7 mm on the first 40 units built)

|bombs= Up to 1000 kg (1100 lbs) of bombs }}

==See also== {{aircontent |related= |similar aircraft= * Westland Whirlwind * Grumman XP-50 |lists= * List of aircraft of World War II * List of fighter aircraft * List of Regia Aeronautica aircraft used in World War II |see also= }}

==References== {{reflist}}

==Further reading== *Lembo, Daniele ''Officine Ferroviarie Meridionali IMAM'', Aerei nella Storia magazine n.34 Nov 2003, Delta editions, Parma. {{in lang|it}}

==External links== {{commons category|IMAM Ro.57}} * [https://comandosupremo.com/imam-ro-57/ Comando Supremo: IMAM Ro.57] * [http://www.airwar.ru/enc/fww2/ro57.html IMAM Ro.57] {{in lang|ru}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20091027073401/http://geocities.com/Lucktam/italian.htm Italian Aircraft 1939–45]

{{IMAM aircraft}} {{Portal bar|Italy|Companies|Aviation}}

Ro.57 Category:1930s Italian fighter aircraft Category:Aircraft first flown in 1939 Category:Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft Category:Aircraft with retractable conventional landing gear