From 'Chance Vought F7U Cutlass', Naval Fighters 6,
"The Navy opened a 1945 fighter competition for a fighter capable of 40,000 feet and 600 mph....
Twelve designs were submitted by six companies.
Vought submitted four, McDonnell NAA and Curtiss-Wright two each, and Martin and Douglas one each.
The final contenders were Vought's V-346A,B,C, and the Douglas 565
The Vought V-346A was chosen as the winner on June 25th, 1946..."
V-346A :-Swept-wing tailless aircraft weighing 14,300lbs, with two J-34 engines inside the fuselage,
Top speed 620 mph, rate of climb 6,500 fpm.
V-346B :-Conventional swept-wing aircraft weighing 15,700lbs, with two J-34 engines inside the fuselage,
Top speed 605 knots, rate of climb 5,800 fpm.
V-346C :- Similar to the V-346A, with the addition of one J-34 engine, giving a weight of 17,500lbs,
a Top Speed of 655 knots, and rate of climb 9,700 fpm.
V-346D :-Conventional swept-wing aicraft weighing 20,950lbs with three engines,
of which two were to be mounted in nacelles under each wing, and a third in the fuselage.
Top Speed 610 knots, rate of climb 7,000 fpm.
cheers,
Robin.
[Removed pics as better ones posted below - Admin]