In 1934, the US Navy issued
a program for a Maritime reconnaissance and dive bombing aircraft.
10 Builders respond, including 6 with Biplans: we are in the process
of technological transition and modern designs cotate old still
very tenacious ... The Vought Company offers the XSB2U-1. This modern-looking
aircraft is a low-profile, low-flying monoplane. It remains despite
everything, clothed except for the bonnet.. It is powered by a Pratt
& Withney R-1535-78 in 700cv star. The aircraft made its first
flight on January 4, 1936. But during the tests, the prototype went
into a spin and crashed killing the two crewmen.
The US Navy, however, places
an order for 44 SB2U-1s, and the first copies come into service
in December 1937. This order is followed by another for 48 copies
in the slightly modified version SB2U-2.
The company Vought, on own
funds, realizes another SB2U-2 to serve as demonstrator internationally.
The aircraft is thus presented, in October 1938, at the Salon Aéronautique
of Paris, at the Grand Palais. The French Navy is interested in
this resolutely modern aircraft, and a market has been awarded for
a shipment of 20 export aircraft under the Vought 156F designation.
A second order of 20 aircraft will be placed in May 1939. And last
one order in March 1940 for 50 copies that will never be delivered
in France, but taken into account by the British under the designation
"Chesapeake"
Aircraft returned to French
standards are delivered without weapons: it is set up by the French
technical services. This version also adopts aerodynamic brakes
on the extrados of the wings, equipment refused by the US-Navy.
The aircrafts are delivered in box and reassembled in Orly. Note
that the US-Navy refused, for reasons of confidentiality, that Vought
delivers the aircrafts with the spacing forks of the ventral bombs.
French aircraft can only carry one 75kg bomb under each wing ...
The AB1 Escadrille, the Béarn
aircraft carrier, is the first unit to receive the new aircraft
to replace its old Levasseur PL-7. The Vought 156Fs are delivered
without Radio or Bomb Launcher, but will be equipped over time,
and the unit, operating from ground bases has 12 operational aircraft
in December 1939.
The AB3 Squadron, newly created
on December 1, 1939, also receives Vought 156F. Surprisingly, even
though the Béarn Aircraft Carrier is retired from active
service, the Vought 156F will be qualified for landing ... which
will be done without any particular difficulty.
On May 10, 1940, the AB3
suffered the full German attack: the shed that housed all its Vought
156F was destroyed by a raid early in the morning, and no Vought
156F will be saved. The events will not allow to re-equip in time
the squadron: the Campaign of France is finished for the unit ...
The AB3 Squadron, meanwhile,
will participate in the campaign of France. It will be engaged in
Holland, without losses at first, but on May 20, during an attack
without protection of hunting, to destroy the bridge of Origny Sainte-Benoite,
5 aircrafts will be slaughtered by the German hunting, resulting
in the loss of 8 men: 5 dead and 3 prisoners. The unit continues
its missions in the north before being folded on Hyères from
June 10, to counter a possible attack from Italy that is about to
enter the conflict. On June 15, 6 Vought 156F are destroyed on the
ground by the Italian hunt and on June 18, will take place the last
mission before the Armisitice.
Three aircraft will manage
to be evacuated on Bône, in Algeria. The two squadrons AB1
and AB3, become 1AB and 3AB, will be dissolved from August 1940,
and the aircraft will be stored and dismantled. Of the initial 40
Vought 156F, there are 7 surviving aircraft, 3 of which will be
destroyed by the Germans during the invasion of the free zone, and
the others disappear in North Africa, without leaving a trace.
For the 50 Vought 156F of
the last command, taken into account by the British under the name
of "Chesapeake", they will know a career very short: the
English will judge the aircraft too inefficient, and it will never
serve in combat under the British colors.
