The Vought aircraft was a contemporary and competitor of the TBF, not a replacement.
Grumman, Vought, Brewster, Douglas, Hall and Vultee all tendered one or more configurations
to the same USN RFP on August 24, 1939. From a total of thirteen proposals the Navy whittled
it down to three designs from Brewster, Grumman and Vought. By 3 November they had decided
to procure two prototypes from Grumman (XTBF-1)and one from Vought (XTBU-1). The contracts
were not awarded until April, 1940.
After experiencing major structural problems in testing, the XTBU-1 rear fuselage tore off in an
arrested landing test at Anacostia, Vought had to do some redesign. The production was assigned
to Consolidated because Vought did not the capacity to produce the TBU-1 because of other
production commitments, so it was turned over to Consolidated-Vultee in Allentown, Pa. as the
TBY. The first TBY-2 was not delivered until November 1944. 189 were built before the contract
was canceled. Two squadrons were preparing for deployment overseas, however the TBY-2s
were withdrawn from service and replaced by TBMs because it was felt that the aircraft still had
too many bugs to be used operationally. Some remained in use as utility and reserve aircraft.
Grumman Aircraft since 1929, Francillon, Putnam/NIP 1989
The Corsair and Other Aeroplanes Vought 1917 - 1977, Moran, HAA 1978, 2nd printing 1991