Handley Page Hampden

Type: Four-Seat bomber (later torpedo bomber and minelayer).
Origin: Handley Page
Models: H.P. 52 Hampden I and H.P. 53 Hereford I
First Flight:
    Prototype H.P. 52: June 31, 1936
    Production Hampden I: May 1938
    Production Hereford I: December 1939
Service Delivery: 1939
Production Halted: March 1942
Number Produced:
1,430 Hampdens (Handley Page 500, English Electric 770, Canadian Associated Aircraft 150)

100 Herefords were built by Short Brothers but failed to achieve operational status, many rebuilt as Hampdens.
Engine:
Hampden I
  Model: Bristol Pegasus XVIII
  Type: 9-Cylinder air cooled radial
  Number: Two    Horsepower: 1,000 hp

Hereford I
  Model: Napier Dagger VIII
  Type: 24-Cylinder air cooled H-type
  Number: Two    Horsepower: 1,000 hp
Dimensions:
Wing span: 69 ft. 2 in. (21.98m)
Length: 53 ft. 7 in. (16.33m)
Height: 14 ft. 4 in. (4.37m)
Wing Surface Area: N/A
 Weights:
Empty:
   Hampden: 11,780 lb. (5344 kg)
   Hereford: 11,700 lb. (5308 kg)
Loaded:
   Hampden: 18,756 lb. (8508 kg)
   Hereford: 16,000 lb. (7257 kg)

Performance:
Maximum Speed:
   Hampden: 254 mph (410 km/h)
Initial Climb: 980 ft/min (300 m/min)
Service Ceiling: 19,000 ft. (5790m)
Range (Fully loaded): 1,095 miles (1762 km)
Armament:
One .303 in. Vickers fixed forward.
One .303 in. Lewis manually aimed from nose by
    nav/bomb aimer.
One .303 in. Lewis manually aimed by wireless
    operator from upper rear position.
One .303 in. Lewis manually aimed by lower
    rear gunner.

By January 1940 both rear positions refitted with twin Vickers and increased firing arcs.

Payload:
4,000 lb. (1814 kg.) of bombs internally.

By January 1940 hardpoints were added for two 500 lb. bombs added below outer wings, provision for carrying mines or one 18 in. torpedo internally.
Comments:
    The Hampden was a truly outstanding aircraft that was one of the last bombers to enter RAF service before the outbreak of WWII. This aircraft was so fast and manoeuverable that the makers dubbed it "a fighting bomber" and gave the pilot a fixed gun to fire. The three movable guns were considered sufficient without the weight penalties of heavy turrets. Nearly the equal of the larger Whitley and Wellington in regards to range and payload, it was nearly as fast as the Blenheim and carried twice the load twice as far.
    The Hampden was a pleasant aircraft to fly and thanks to flapped and slatted wings had a relatively slow landing speed of 73 mph. One of the only drawbacks of the type was the relatively cramped crew positions which led the air crews to dub it "the flying suitcase". The Hereford was an attempt to improve the performance of the Hampden and 100 were built by Shorts Brothers but never became operational. These were later converted to the Hampden standard.
    Initially used in daylight raids against German targets, the Hampden suffered heavily when faced with single-engined fighters despite it's performance. The type was withdrawn from operations and refitted with heavier armament and armor. This refitted type resumed operations but was limited to night bombing missions though some were used in minelaying roles as well as a torpedo bomber over the North Sea.
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Sources:
Gunston, Bill - The Encyclodepia of the Worlds Combat aircraft, 1976, Chartwell Books, Inc., New York