Interview

[FPSOlkor]

They did. But for only about 3 month. Pilots were not really satisfied... But most of them didn't live long enough to complain.

On 23.10.1942 20 Hampdens were presented to the VVS SF. They were immediately modyfied by changing British torpedo bridge to the soviet for 45-36 AN torpedo instead of MkXII. Defence was improved by installing a soviet UTK-1 turret with UB machine gun instead of standart british twin 7,69mm MG. Survivability was improved by installing "neutral gas" system to the fuel tanks. Hampden was worse then Il-4 in all terms - it was 40 km\h slower, had only half the range, and was difficult to fly. Guards Senior lieutenant Balashov wrote a report to the VVS SF command: "...I would rather go to the infantry then fly this airplane...". By July 1943 not a single Hampden remained in the VVS SF.