So important did the Soviets consider having a navigator as part of the crew that when they received A-20G models with a solid nose containing six. Soviet A-20s were normally flown with three- or four-man crews. The Soviet A-20s were also modified to drop air-delivered sea mines, such as the AMG-1, AMD 500kg, and AMD 1,000kg variants. While the A-20 in theory could carry two airborne torpedoes externally, in practice the A-20 would only carry one torpedo to enable greater range. The VVS-VMF also installed special external racks to allow the dropping of torpedoes. The VVS-VMF modified these aircraft by installing special external bomb racks so that they could carry not only Soviet FAB 100kg, 200kg, and 500kg bombs, but also FAB 1,000kg (2,200-pound) bombs. 50-caliber machine gun in the ventral tunnel gunner position. 50-caliber machine guns in a dorsal turret, and a single. The majority of A-20s received were the of A-20G variety, with six forward-firing. The VVS-VMF received a total of 663 A-20 bombers of all types out of a total of 2,771 Lend-Lease aircraft received by the Soviet Union. The VVS-VMF would also use the A-20 as a high-level bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, but also in roles that no other nation had before: as a torpedo bomber and minelayer aircraft, as well as a low-level, anti-shipping strike aircraft. The VVS would use the A-20 Boston in the roles of tactical day and night bomber, reconnaissance aircraft, night fighter, and intruder aircraft. The VVS had priority requirements for the Bostons to help counter the ground invasion of the Nazis. When the Soviet Union entered the war and requested Lend-Lease aircraft, the British immediately sent 277 Bostons from one of their own orders to the Russian port of Murmansk. 30-caliber machine guns in dorsal and ventral gunner positions. 30-caliber machine guns and three flexible. Armament was increased to four fixed, forward-firing. Army Air Corps competition for a new attack bomber, a scaled-up version of the 7A, the 7B, was developed with a greater wingspan, tricycle landing gear, and more powerful engines to give a maximum speed of 325 miles per hour and a payload capacity of 2,400 pounds. 30-caliber machine guns in the nose (fixed, forward firing), dorsal, and ventral positions and had a crew of three. A twin-engine, shoulder-wing, high-speed bomber with a payload of 1,764 pounds, the 7A was armed with three. The project manager was the legendary John K. The Douglas A-20, known as the Boston to the Soviets, evolved from the Douglas 7A project, whose lead engineer was Ed Heinemann. While the Russians did not get the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress or Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers they wanted, they got the dependable and capable Douglas A-20 Havoc, which turned out to be what was needed. Desperate for replacement aircraft, the Soviets turned to the British and Americans under the Lend-Lease program. Following the apocalyptic initial phase of Operation Barbarossa starting on June 22, 1941, the Germans inflicted crippling losses on the Red Army Air Forces (VVS) and the Soviet Naval Air Forces (VVS-VMF).īy the end of 1941, the Soviets had lost a staggering 9,173 aircraft, a number that could not possibly be replaced quickly.