While practically unknown to the West, inter-service and inter-agency rivalvries played a large part in the history of the Soviet Union. The advent of jet technology brought the rivalvry between the Red Air Force and the Red Fleet Coastal Air Corps. to a head.
Since the Red Fleet had no aircraft carriers in the late 1940's and hence, no need for the most modern aircraft, the grab for state-of-the-art jets was left to the Red Fleet Coastal Air Corps. and its commander, Comrade Admiral Offadeependski. Since the Red Fleet Coastal Air Corps. had few actual runways, obviously a floatplane redesign of the cutting-edge Yak-15 was called for. The Peoples' Secretary for Red Fleet Procurement twisted every arm he could at the Yakelov bureau to make the Yak-15 bis floatplane happen.
Unfortunately, stronger arm-twisting was done by the People's Commisar of the VVS and the Yakelov bureau delivered the initial aircraft for testing without wings. Fortunately, the refit shop of the Red Fleet Coastal Air Corps. was able to find some old metal-framed ND-622 wings built under license in the early 1930's and fitted them on to the Yak-15 bis fuselage. Results were promising.
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Brian da Basher