The V-156-F is a single-engine, low cantilever wing monoplane dive bomber and fighter for use as a carrier-borne or shore-based aircraft. It could carry a single 500lb bomb on a sling under the fuselage. It had a two-man crew and armed with a single rear facing .303 Browning, a forward-facing French Darne gun in the wing and powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1535-78 750hp engine.

Let’s just clear up this complex series of events which became a grave mistake. Vought Aircraft came up with a new dive bomber in 1937 to replace the Devastator, the SB2U Vindicator. The French ordered 40 initially with French modifications including a reverse throttle, French instruments and a French gun and this export variant was called the V-156-F Vindicator. The French aircraft were delivered in late 1939 and used by France during the opening months of the war in three flights. In May 1940 they were used to attack land targets and cover the Dunkerque Evacuation. They were moved to Southern France and attacked targets in Northern Italy and submarines in the Mediterranean. After the fall of France and having suffered heavy losses, the remaining aircraft were moved to Corsica. They were disbanded on August 30, 1940.

The French had put in an order for 50 more before the fall of France, so these 50 were redirected to Britain for use by the Royal Navy with modifications to suit the FAA. This was the V-156B-3, renamed ‘Chesapeake’ by the FAA. The FAA were looking for a dive bomber to replace the ageing Albacore and the under-performing Skua. Other improvements included thicker armour, four forward firing .303 Browning in the wings and an additional fuel tank.

After trials at Boscombe Down the type was placed in the hands of 811 NAS in July 1941 based in Lee-on-Solent for anti-submarine patrols. It was planned for use on the escort carrier HMS Archer. The type had been found to be severely underpowered for its role and unable to operate with any substantial payload from a carrier. In October 1941 the Chesapeake was deemed obsolete by the FAA and relegated to on shore training duties. 811 NAS were re-equipped with the Fairey Swordfish in November.

Nothing short of a disaster really. There are no surviving Chesapeake and only one surviving Vindicator in the USA. Not surprising as only 230 were built.