World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseDeveloped from the Ki-21 bombers by the Mitsubishi Jukogyo KK Design Team, the Ki-57 transports served in both civilian (under designation of MC-20) and military (as Army Type 100 Transport and Navy L4M1 Transport) roles starting in the early 1940s. While the powerplant of the Ki-57-I variant retained the same as the Ki-21 predecessor design, the wings were lowered on the fuselage, while the fuselage interiors were reconfigured to optimize passenger seating. Production ended in Jan 1945 after 406 were built, 100 of which were of the Ki-57-I variant and 306 were of the Ki-57-II variant. After the war, a number of the captured Ki-57 transports were pressed into service in Nationalist China and in the Dutch East Indies.

ww2dbaseThe Allied codename for Ki-57 transports was Topsy.

SPECIFICATIONS

Ki-57-II

Machinery	Two Mitsubishi Ha-102 Zuisei 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engines rated at 1,080hp each
Armament	None; accommodations for 11 passengers
Crew	4
Span	22.60 m
Length	16.10 m
Height	4.86 m
Wing Area	70.08 m²
Weight, Empty	5,585 kg
Weight, Loaded	8,173 kg
Weight, Maximum	9,120 kg
Speed, Maximum	470 km/h
Service Ceiling	8,000 m
Range, Normal	3,000 km

Photographs