With the high-lift wing devices and wide undercarriage, it does look like a Japanese equivalent to the Fieseler Storch (though the radial engine cowling is different). Do you know if it actually was a version of the Storch, or is the resemblance simply due to being designed for the same job?
Hi. The japanese army was quite impressed by the experiences made by the german army using the Fi 156. So in September 1940 reqirements were given to Nippon Kokusai K. K. for a similar aircraft. Maiden flight was made in May 1941. In June 1941 a Fi 156 reached Japan and several competitive tests were made. The Ki-76 was superiour in almost every regard. Main differences were the engine (240 hp in-line to 310 hp radial) and the flaps (slotted flaps to Fowler flaps) giving the Ki-76 a higher speed and a higher lift coefficient. So it was a different plane designed for the same job with some basic design features taken over from the Fi 156 By the way: The Ki-76 was used besides the Ka-1 autogyro for anti-submarine warfare aboard Akitsu Maru. Yours tom!
Though the Ki-76 had much better range and ceiling (though the last was rather incidental for the role that it was created for) it actually lost the one main advantage that the Storch had - the Storch could land virtually anywhere and take off on a very short run. And it's AS role must have been very very limited because it could only carry about 100 or so kg in depth charges (not a lot really except to scare a sub to dive).
Hi. It carried two 60 kg depth charges which was enough to cause some serious trouble to a submarine with a near hit. For the japanese army main purpose of the use of this aircraft was convoy defence, not necessarily destruction of a submarine. So if the sub was forced to evade by diving it maybe loose contact to the enemy convoy due to the low sub-sea speed. Yours tom!
