In 1941, the IJAAF issued an specification for a successor of the Nakajima Ki-49. This specification sought for a high-speed twin-engined heavy bomber which could be employed against the Soviets over the Manchurian-Siberian border. Unlike other Japanese bombers of the time, it was requested to have good defensive armament ,the ability to resist heavy battle damage and to be highly maneuverable to allow it carry out dive bombing attacks and low level escapes.
The Ki-67 was designed by a team led by Kyunojo Ozawa, chief engineer at Mitsubishi. It was an all-metal mid-winged monoplane with a retractable tailwheel undercarriage. It was also equipped with self-sealing fuel tanks and armour. Those features were common in American and British built aircraft but they were rare in the Japanese ones. It was powered by two 1.900 hp Mitsubishi Ha-104 radial engines and had a defensive armament of one 20 mm Ho-5 cannon placed in the dorsal turret plus five 12,7 mm Ho-103 machine guns, in nose, tail and each beam positions respectively.
It could carry a payload of 1.070 Kg (2.360 lb) in its internal bomb bay. This, made the Ki-67 a medium bomber, according to American and Western doctrines. In comparison, the North American B-25 Mitchell had a payload of 2.722 kg (6.000 lb), the Martin B-26 Marauder up to 1.814 kg (4.000 lb) and the Vickers Wellington up to 2.000 kg (4.500 lb). However, they rarely flew fully loaded as their range was reduced significantly. Japanese doctrine almost always bid for greater ranges with their maximum rated payload, giving this way, a strategical bombing capability, unlike their Allied counterparts, which were considered as tactical bombers.
Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Ki-67
2. Bunrin Do - Famous Airplanes of the World 98 - Mitsubishi Army Type 4 Heavy Bomber (Ki-67) (Translated as best as we could)
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