Supermarine Spitfire

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Contents 1 Historical Data 2 History 2.1 Spitfire History 2.2 Seafire History 3 Version History 3.1 Prototype 3.2 Spitfire Mk. I-III 3.3 Spitfire Mk. IV-VIII 3.4 Spitfire Mk. IX-XIII 3.5 Spitfire Mk. XIV-XIX 3.6 Spitfire Mk. XX-24 3.7 Seafire 4 Individual Model Data 4.1 Spitfire IA 4.2 Spitfire IIA 4.3 Spitfire Vc 4.4 Spitfire LF Vc 4.5 Spitfire VI 4.6 Spitfire VII 4.7 Spitfire F VIII 4.8 Spitfire LF VIII 4.9 Spitfire LF IXe and LF XVIe 4.10 Spitfire HF IXe 4.11 Spitfire XII 4.12 Spitfire XIVe 4.13 Spitfire 21 4.14 Spitfire 22/24 4.15 Seafire F III 4.16 Seafire XV 4.17 Seafire 47 5 Sources 6 See Also

Historical Data

Country: Great Britain

Type/Role: Single-seat Interceptor, Photo Reconnaissance, and Fighter-bomber.

Manufacturer: Supermarine Aviation Works, Ltd.

Factories: Castle Bromwich, Birmingham.

Company Designation: Supermarine Spitfire, Supermarine Seafire

Military Designations: Supermarine Spitfire Mark I, Supermarine Spitfire Mark II, Supermarine Spitfire Mark III, Supermarine Spitfire Mark IV, Supermarine Spitfire Mark V, Supermarine Spitfire Mark VI, Supermarine Spitfire Mark VII, Supermarine Spitfire Mark VIII, Supermarine Spitfire Mark IX, Supermarine Spitfire Mark X, Supermarine Spitfire Mark XI, Supermarine Spitfire Mark XII, Supermarine Spitfire Mark XIV, Supermarine Spitfire Mark XVI, Supermarine Spitfire Mark XVIII, Supermarine Spitfire Mark XIX, Supermarine Spitfire Mark 21, Supermarine Spitfire Mark 22, Supermarine Spitfire Mark 24, Supermarine Seafire Mark I, Supermarine Seafire Mark II, Supermarine Seafire Mark Ib, Supermarine Seafire Mark IIc, Supermarine Seafire Mark III, Supermarine Seafire Mark XV, Supermarine Seafire Mark 17, Supermarine Seafire Mark 45, Supermarine Seafire Mark 46, Supermarine Seafire Mark 47

First Flight: June 3, 1936

Service Date: May 1938

Units Equipped: ???

# Produced: 20,351 Spitfires and 2,408 Seafires

History

Spitfire History

Unlike the Hurricane, whose pedigree was a long line of combat aircraft, the Supermarine Spitfire came from a long line of racing seaplanes. Similarly, it was the brainchild of a brilliant aerodynamics engineer, Reginald J. Mitchell, who worked himself literally to death to design the machine that would serve as the backbone of the RAF fighter force throughout World War II.

Built around the Rolls Royce PV-12, the progenitor of the famous Merlin, the Spitfire first flew on March 5, 1935. A little over a year later, the Air Ministry issued a production order for 310 machines, which was later increased to 510. By the beginning of the war, the RAF had accepted 306 Spitfires from Supermarine.

As with most first models, numerous improvements were made during production, including the addition of armor plating, the newer Merlin III and a three-bladed deHavilland propeller. The Spitfire Ia, with its eight .303 Browning machine guns, was the primary version used during the Battle of Britain. With its faster speed and superior turning radius, the Spitfire was sent after Luftwaffe fighters, leaving the slower Hurricanes to deal with the bombers.

After having engaged in combat against the German Bf-109E, several deficiencies became apparent and work began on improvements to the basic Spitfire Mk Ia. The Mk II version employed the more powerful Merlin XII engine and included several other improvements, such as increased protective armor plating for the pilot and engine.

The Mk II was also the first version to employ the use of alternate wings containing different armament options. The "A" wing standard, consisting of eight Browning .303 machine guns, was used to equip the first 750 Mk IIs, while the final 175 examples used the "B" wing, which consisted of four Browning .303s and a pair of Hispano 20mm cannon.

Development of the Mk III and Mk IV variants was undertaken in parallel and although neither version was produced, they provided valuable research that contributed toward the development of the Mk V. In addition to various wings as used on the Mk II, the Mk V was the first Spitfire model to employ a variety of different engines, each tuned to operate at different altitudes.

The "F" variant was intended to serve as a general purpose, all-altitude fighter-bomber, and as a result used an engine that was tuned for maximum performance at about 9000 feet altitude. As an all altitude fighter, the "F" model Mk V used the standard length Spitfire wings. The "S" designation refered to the installation of the Vokes tropical air filter, which kept sand out of the carburetor but which caused additional drag, thereby reducing performance slightly.

The wings on the Mk V were stressed to allow carriage of two 250 lb. bombs. Alternatively, a 500 lb. bomb or a "slipper" fuel tank could be mounted under the fuselage centerline. The "slipper" tank was designed to mount flush with the fuselage and looked like a bulge on the underside of the plane. Mk Vs were used extensively over France, in Egypt and over Malta.

In late 1941 the Focke-Wulf FW-190 started showing up in service with the Channel Coast Jagdgruppen and suddenly the Spitfire Mk V was again outclassed by the competition. Something needed to be done fast to rectify the situation.

Making drastic changes to the Mk V would take too long, so the solution was to simply install a more powerful version of the Rolls-Royce Merlin, the Merlin 61 rated for 1,565 hp at sea level, in the Mk V airframe. The resulting Mk IX would be considered by many to be the finest Spitfire "Mark" produced during the war.

The first versions of the Mk IX were fitted with the "C" wing, equipped with four 20mm Hispano cannon, though often times this was reduced to two cannon to save weight. Later versions employed the "Universal" or "E" wing, which held a pair of 20mm Hispano cannons and a pair of .50 caliber Browning machine guns. Additionally, this version was able to carry a 500 lb. bomb under the fuselage and a pair of 250 lb. bombs under the wings for ground attack duties. Although it was considered an interim or "stop-gap" type, the Mk IX was produced in quantities second only to the Mk V, with total production reaching 5,609 machines.

With the success of the Mk IX, the development of the Spitfire was able to take more radical turns. One such change was the replacement of the famous Merlin engine with the much more powerful Rolls-Royce Griffon fitted with the five-bladed Rotol propeller.

The Mk XIVe was the first Griffon-based Spitfire to be produced in large numbers, with a total of 957 being built. Early versions used the "C" wing, though the "e" wing became the later standard. Similarly, the first production fighter versions had the standard stepped canopy design, while the photo recon versions used a bubble canopy, which was used on later model fighter variants.

To improve range a 13-gallon fuel tank was installed in the leading edge of each wing. More importantly, the Mk XIV was stressed to allow up to 1000 lbs. of bombs to be carried on wing and fuselage bomb mounts. The "e" wing armament of two .50 caliber machine guns and two 20mm cannon was more than sufficient to bring down the fighters and medium bombers the plane was expected to face.

Seafire History

At the start of the war the Fleet Air Arm was mainly equipped with Gladiator and Swordfish biplanes, which were hardly capable of meeting the Luftwaffe or any other modern air force on an equal basis. Lacking any purpose-built planes that could fill the air defense role, they elected to try converting the RAFís two stablemates to shipboard duty.

Because of its greater structural strength, the Hurricane was the first to be converted. It proved to be successful, so the Spitfire was next in line for conversion. Tests made by installing an A-frame arrestor hook to a standard Spitfire Mk.Vb proved that the Spitfire airframe could withstand the stress and another 166 were ordered to be converted. Initially dubbed the "hooked Spitfire", they were subsequently officially named the Type 340 Seafire.

While all Seafire Mk.IBs were conversions, 372 Seafire Mk.IICs were built at the factory using the "C" wing with its variable armament loads. The Mk.IIC saw combat during the landings at Sicily, however their lack of folding wings meant that they couldn't be deployed below decks on Royal Navy carriers.

The solution to this problem arrived in the form of a new folding wing, which increased weight by only 125 lbs. while only suffering a 10% reduction in structural strength. This new wing was the centerpiece of the new Type 358 Seafire Mk.III and quantity production commenced, resulting in a total of about 1,220 machine being delivered.

Version History

Prototype

Type 300 = Coinciding with the development of the 1,000 hp Rolls Royce PV-12 engine, Reginald Mitchell started work on the Type 300 to initially meet the 1931 Air Ministry Specification F.7/30 and later the 1935 F.37/34 and the F.10/35 specifications. With Air Ministry approval of the project, Supermarine, working together with Rolls Royce and the Air Ministr, eliminated the basic shortcomings in the initial design and began work on a prototype in March 1935. A year later the prototype, registration # K5054, was shipped to Eastleigh airfield in Hampshire to begin flight testing with the Vickers chief test pilot, Mutt Summers on 5 March 1936. The prototype was tested for over 150 hours before it was destroyed in a crash at Farnborough on 4 September 1939.

Spitfire Mk. I-III

Spitfire Mk. I = The Air Ministry issued a new specificaion, F.16/36, which covered the details of the new plane and signed a contract with Supermarine for 310 Spitfires Is, which was later increased to 510 machines. The initial production variant was powered by the Rolls Royce Merlin II, delivering 1,030 hp using 87 octane fuel and driving a fixed-pitch, two-blade propeller. Fuel capacity was 85 gal divided into two tanks in front of the cockpit, with the lower tank covered in self-sealing material. The 5.9 gal oil tank was placed under the engine and was shaped to form part of the engine cowl, allowing for improved oil cooling over the exposed tank side. Armament consisted of 8x .303 cal Browning machine guns with 300 rpg in the wings. Total weight was 5,800 lbs and the plane could attain a top speed of 364 mph at altitude.

Spitfire Mk. IA = During the production run various changes were made to the aircraft. The two-blade prop was replaced with a three-blade, two-speed de Havviland unit by the 78th plane produced. From the 175th machine onward, the engine was upgraded to the newer Merlin III, which allowed the newer Rotol three-blade prop to be used as an alternative to the de Havilland unit. Other changes made before the start of the war included a bubble canopy replacing the earlier flat-topped configuration, armor plating added to the engine bulkhead, and an engine-driven hydraulic pump to replace the hand-pump used on initial models for raising and lowering the landing gear. Most of these changes were retrofitted to earlier machines either in the field or during overhaul at the depot level. In 1940 the de Havilland prop was replaced with a constant-speed, variable-pitch model.

Spitfire PR Mk. I = Updated designation for the Spitfire PR Type C described below.

Spitfire Mk. IIa = The Spitfire II combined all the latest design improvements of the Spitfire IA with a Merlin XII engine rated for 1,175 hp with 100 octane fuel. Other than the addition of a small blister over the Coffman starter on the right side of the cowl, the Mark II was visually identical to the latest Mark IA. Mark IIs were built exclusively at the Castle Bromwich plant near Birmingham, the first 750 using the "a" wing, with 8x .303 machine guns, and the latter 170 using the "b" wing as described below. Armor protection for the pilot had increased to 73 lb, the fuel-tanks were made self-sealing, and an armored windscreen were added during the production run. In attempts to improve the range of the Sprifire, experiments were made with 40 gal faired tanks attached to the wing leading edge, but these were not jettisonable and negatively impacted performance, and so were withdrawn from service when a "slipper" tank under the fuselage was developed.

Spitfire Mk. IIb = The last 170 machines of the Mark II production run were fitted with the "b" wing, which replaced the two inboard machine guns in each wing with a 20 mm Hispano cannon, which required the addition of a small blister over each gun's drum magazine.

Spitfire Mk. IIC = Officially known as the Sea Rescue Type E (Spitfire) and used by up to five squadrons, several Mark IIs were converted a dingy and food supplies, which could be dropped via parachute, and smoke marker bombs to help rescue boats locate downed fliers. They were officially redisignated the Spitfire ASR Mk.II in 1942 to coincide with a newer designation system.

Spitfire ASR Mk. II = An updated designation assignd in 1942 to the rescue Spitfire Mk. IICs.

Spitfire PR Type A = Type Mk. IIs were fitted with wing cameras for photo-reconnaissance work.

Spitfire PR Type B = The same two photo-recon Mk. IIs were retrofitted with an additional 29 gal. fuel tank and were redesignated Type B.

Spitfire PR Type C = The same two photo-recon Mk. IIs converted once again to take the new rear fuselage fuel tank and wing and fuselage cameras. Later Mk. I and Mk. V fighters Some aircraft were produced to the Type C standard and were later redesignated Spitfire PR Mk. I.

Spitfire PR Type D = Two new photo-recon planes were built using the basic Mk. I/II airframe, powered by the older Merlin III and fitted with new wings with 66.5 gal fuel tanks on each side. The wing cameras were removed and two F.8 and F.24 cameras were mounted in the fuselage in tandem to provide overlapping photos. An additional 14 gal oil tank was mounted in the wings, additional oxygen was supplied, and the cockpit heating was improved. Total fuel capacity was 218 gal, more than twic the 85 gal capacity of the fighter versions. These planes were later redesignated Spitfire PR Mk. III.

Spitfire Mk. III = The Spitfire Mk. III was the first model to see significant changes to the airframe design. The wings were clipped to provide better roll performance at low altitudes and the fuselage was strengthened to better sustain the stresses of combat. The tail-wheel was made retractible and the main landing gear was strengthened and was given two additional inches of forward rake. To help reduce drag, landing gear doors were added to cover the wheels when the gear was retracted. Additional pilot protection was provided with the addition of an internal armored windscreen and pilot armor was increased to 88 lbs. Only one example was built (registration N3297), which was used for testing various armament, and radiator and engine configurations in the Merlin 60 and 61 series. Over 90,000 man hours were expended in the design of the Mk. III.

Spitfire PR Mk. III = Updated designation for the Spitfire PR Type D described above.

Spitfire Mk. IV-VIII

Spitfire Mk. IV = Supermarine had planned to marry the developments in the Mk. III prototype with the Griffon engine, but the engine was not ready at that stage and by the time it became available the Mk. IV designation had long since been passed by and a a result no Spitfire Mk. IV was ever built.

Spitfire PR Mk. IV = Powered by the Merlin 45 engine, the PR Mk. IV was otherwise identical to the to Spitfire PR Mk. IIIs. At the same time, camera installations were standardized on three different configurations: the W fitting used two F.8 cameras with 20 in focal length lenses, the S fitting used two F.24 cameras with 14 in lenses, and the Y fitting used two F.52 cameras with 36 in lenses. A total of 229 Mk. Va/Vb airframes were converted to the PR Mk. IV model on the production line, with modifications including the removal of all armament and the addition of two 66.5 gal leading edge wing tanks to bring the total internal fuel capacity to 218 gal. The PR Mk. IV was equipped with a modified canopy with teardrop blisters on each side for improved visibility to the front and rear. It was also equipped with the K type dinghy, 1.5 gal drinking water, the TR 1133 radio and, for overseas use, the Aboukir air filter (see Spitfire SPF Mk. V below).

Spitfire Mk. Va = With the availability of the new Merlin 45 engine, with a combat output of 1,475 hp, the Mark II airframe was adapted to accept the engine by strengthening the fuselage longerons. The Mk. Va used the "a" wing standard, which consisted of the original 8x Browning .303 machine guns with 350 rpg. The first Mk. Va machines began to reach squadron service in February 1941 and by June production had completely shifted to the "b" wing standard, described below. As with the lone Spitfire Mk. III prototype, the Mk. V had two inches additional rake on the main landing gear.

Spitfire Mk. Vb = By June 1941 Spitfire production of machines with the "a" wing was halted in favor of the "b" wing standard, which replaced the two inboard .303 cal machine guns in each wing with a 20 mm Hispano cannon with 120 rpg. Initially Mk. Vb production used a wing with the same span as the earlir Mk. I/II/Va standard, but later models were built with clipped wings of 30 ft 6 in span, for improved roll performance at low altitudes. The Mk. V was designed to take a variety of Merlin engine models and numerous detail changes were made during the production run, including the Vokes Multi-Vee air filter, which equipped most Mk. Vs intended for overseas use. Three different external "slipper" fuel tanks were made to fit under the fuselage in 30 gal, 90 gal and 170 gal sizes. Additional armor was applied in the Mk V series, with armor being placed above, below and in front of the cannon ammunition bins, under the pilot's seat, and in front of the coolant header tank. Adidionally, the cowling panel over the main fuel tank was made thicker to add some protection from enemy fire. Additional piping was installed in the Mk. Vb and Vc model from the engine exhaust to the outboard gun bays to prevent them freezing at high altitudes. Later models also had the fabric covered ailerons replaced with metal skinned controls. Many Mk. Vs sent to the Mediterranean theater were fitted with bomb racks allowing 2x 250 lb bombs to be carried under the wings or 1x 500 lb bomb under the fuselage.

Spitfire Mk. Vc = A third armament configuration was the "c" wing standard with 4x 20 mm Hispano cannons in the wings. A number of the Mk. Vs shipped to Malta used the "c" wing, but the two outboard cannons were usually removed because of ammunition shortages and because two cannons was enough firepower and the weight savings allowed the plane to climb faster.

Spitfire SPF Mk. V = Five Mk. Vs sent to Egypt were modified by No. 103 Maintenance Unit at Aboukir, Egypt to use a smaller, more streamlined air filter installation than that offerd by the stock Vokes setup. These machines were modified further to operate at high altitudes, despite the clipped wing configuration. Forming the "Special Performance Flight" they were the first clipped-wing Spitfires to intercept enemy Ju-86 reconnaissance planes at 40,000 ft. One machine was later fitted with the Merlin 61 and a four-bladed prop and multiple exhaust stacks.

Spitfire F Mk. Va = With the number of variations of Spitfires configured for different altitudes and functions, the RAF instituted a system of using a letter ahead of the Mark number to indicate the specific function. The F designation indicated the plane as being a standard multi-altitude Fighter. The Spitfire F Mk. Va was a redesignation of existing Mk. Va models using the Merlin 45 engine.

Spitfire F Mk. Vb = The standard Fighter version of the Mk. V with the "b" wing was powered by the Merlin 45 or 46 engine.

Spitfire F Mk. Vc = The standard Fighter version of the Mk. V with the "c" wing used either the Merlin 45, 46, 50, 50A, 55 or 56 engine.

Spitfire LF Mk. Vb = The low-altitude version of the Mk. Vb had clipped wings and used the Merlin 45M, 50M or 55M engine, which had the supercharger imnpeller cropped to a smaller diameter to reduce the full-throttle height. Additionally they were fitted with negative G carburetors and fuel de-aerators. Combined, these modifications gave the LF Mk. Vb an increased zoom climb rate of 7000 ft/min and 9 mph additional speed below 5,000 ft.

Spitfire PR Mk. V = The PR Mk. V designation was first applied to 15 Mk. V conversions using the Merlin 45 engine and Type C camera installations. These were later redesignated PR Mk. IVs to avoid confusion with standard Mk. V fighters.

Spitfire HF Mk. VI = Powered by the 1,475 hp Merlin 47 the HF Mk. VI was the first produciton Spitfire intended for high-altitude combat combat. The HF Mk. VI used a pressurized cockpit and was fitted with extended length wings of 40 ft 2 in span. Five examples were shipped to Egypt to replace the SPF Mk. V conversions, but their performance was actually worse than the modified planes and the HF Mk. VI proved incapable of catching the Ju-86P-2 flights, which were now operating at 50,000 ft. As a result, only 97 were built and they were used for training aircraft with standard wings and all armament removed. About14,000 man hours were spent in design, with a further 50,000 in jigs and tools.

Spitfire HF Mk. VII = Utilizing the new 1,250 hp Merlin 71 engine with individual exhaust stacks, which allowed a maximum speed of 414 mph at 44,000 ft, the Mk. VII used a pressurized cockpit and extended span wings, with reduced span ailerons and leading edge 14 gal fuel tanks. The longer engine mounts extended the fuselage length to 31 ft 4 in with the older rounded rudder and 31 ft 6 in with the broad chord rudder. The new engine utilized a different radiator system and the older, assymetrical appearance with the circular oil cooler on the port side wing was replaced by identical rectangular radiator enclosures under each wing. The one on the right side was used for the intercooler radiator and the left-side radiator was for the oil cooler.

Spitfire F Mk. VII = Similar to the HF Mk. VII but lacking the cockpit pressurization and extended wings, the F Mk. VII was powered by the 1,565 hp Merlin 61 or the 1,710 hp Merlin 64 engine.

Spitfire PR Mk. VII = Also referred to as the Type G, the PR Mk. VII was the first recon Spitfire to retain the standard fighter armament. It used two F.24 cameras in the rear fuselage, a 29 gal fuel tank below the seat, a bulletproof windshield, reflector gunsight, standard armor and a canopy with teardrop blisters on each side for improved visibility to the front and rear. A total of 45 PR Mk. VIIs were produced at Heston in 1941-1942 by modifying older Mk. I fighter airframes. Design of the Mk. VII accounted for 86,000 man hours and 250,000 were spent on jigs and tools.

Spitfire F Mk. VIII = Essentially an unpressurized version of the HF Mk. VII, with the "c" wing armament, the F Mk. VIII was powered by the Merlin 61, 63 or 63A engine and the wings and fuselage racks were stessed to carry up to 1,000 lbs of bombs under the wings or under the fuselage. While early models used the extended length wings, later models reverted to standard universal wings. Intended for overseas use and lease-lend to the USAAF, the Mk. VIII was fitted with the Vokes Aero-Vee air filter in a small scoop under the fuselage at the wing leading edge, which did not alter the cowl design. The Mk. VIII was used primarily in the Mediterranean and Far Eastern theaters, with a significant number going to the USAAF and RAAF. Although it was designed before the Mk. IX, it actually appeared after the Mk. IX because of the extensive design changes and the need to not disrupt the production of first-line fighters for the RAF. Design of the Mk. VIII required 25,000 man hours and jigs and rools required 150,000.

Spitfire LF Mk. VIII = The low-altitude version of the Mk. VIII used the Merlin 66 engine.

Spitfire HF Mk. VIII = The high-altitude version of the Mk. VIII was powered by the Merlin 70 engine.

Spitfire Mk. VIII Trainer = After the war a single Mk. VIII was converted into the prototype Spitfire Trainer by moving the existing cockpit forward 13.5 in and installing a second cockpit behind it in a raised position enclosed with a bubble canopy. The fuel system was modified to compensate for the modified center of gravity and full instruments were provided in both cockpits.

Spitfire Mk. IX-XIII

Spitfire F Mk. IXb = With the introduction of the FW-190 to the Channel Coast battlefield, the Mk. V was suddenly outclassed and after the pilot of a new FW-190A-3 became lost and landed at RAF Pembey in Wales in June 1942, an immediate solution was called for. The result was an interim version, but is widely regarded as the best Spitfire Mark of them all. A 1,565 hp Merlin 61 engine was installed in standard Mk. Vb airframes by Supermarine at Castle Bromwich as engines became available. The first F Mk. IXs reached squadron service in July 1942, a month after the captured 190 had been tested. The first run of production Mk. IXs used the rounded rudder of the earlier Mk. Vs, but later models used the longer and taller broad-chord, pointed-tip rudder. When later models were fitted with a bubble canopy, the Mk. IX became externally identical to the Mk. XIVs, other than nose differences due to the different engines. Internally fuel was contined in a 95 gal tank ahead of the cockpit, two 18 gal fabric fuel cells in the wings and a 72 gal tank behind the pilot's seat, for a total internal capacity of 203 gal. The Mk. IX was the first model to use the cylindrical 50 gal drop tank under the fuselage, allowing a total fuel capacity of 253 gal. Later models were powered by the 1,650 hp Merlin 63 engine. A total of 5,665 Mk. IXs were built, with the first examples going to No. 64 Squadron. By D-Day there were 34 squadrons of Spitfire Mk. IXs for support duties and another 22 squadrons for air defense over England. Numerous Mk. IXs were sold overseas, at a 1943 price of 43,000 English Pounds or 180,000 US Dollars. About 43,800 man hours were spent in design and another 30,000 in jigs and tools.

Spitfire F Mk. IXc = The F Mk. IXc used the four-cannon armament of the Mk. Vc and was otherwise identical to the variant with the "b" wing.

Spitfire LF Mk. IX = The low-altitude variant of the Mk. IX was powered by the 1,580 hp Merlin 66, and could use the "b", "c" or the later Universal "e" wing.

Spitfire HF Mk. IX = The high-altitude fighter variant of the Mk. IX was powered by the 1,475 hp Merlin 70 engine and used either the "b", "c" or later "e" wing.

Spitfire Mk. IXe = The universal "e" wing was designed to use either 4x 20 mm Hispano cannons or 2x 20 mm cannons and 2x .50 cal Browning machine guns. When fitted with only two cannons, the outboard guns were retained because of the tendancy of the wing to buckle under bomb loads at the inboard cannon ammo bay when only two cannons were installed in the inboard positions. The "e" wing was used on almost all Spitfire variants after it was developed.

Spitfire Mk. IX Trainer= After conversion of the Mk. VIII Trainer, 20 Mk. IXs were converted into Trainers with the same configuration as that of the Mk. VIII Trainer. Internally, the Mk. IX Trainer differed in having no leading edge wing tanks and a fixed tail wheel instead of the retractible unit on the Mk. VIII Trainer.

Spitfire PR Mk. X = Modified on the Mk. VII production line, the PR Mk. X was essentially identical to the HF Mk. VII, but with armament removed and leading edge 66.5 gal wing tanks in place of the 14 gal tanks. Electric fuel pumps were immersed in the leading edge tanks, instead of the pressure feed used on earlier leading-edge fuel tanks. Only 16 planes were built and were issued to PR units in May 1944 and withdrawn from service a year and a half later.

Spitfire PR Mk. XI = Powered by the Merlin 61, the PR XI was based on the Mk. IX production model, with 15 examples being converted by the No. 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit at Benson. Early production machines used the Merlin 61, 63 or 63A engine with the rounded rudder, while at least 229 later models were powered by the Merlin 70 engine and was fitted with the pointed-tip, broad-chord rudder. Unlike earlier PR models, they used a standard, non-blistered canopy and, because combat was not expected, the armored windscreen was replaced with the original curved model for reduced drag. With the Merlin 70, the PR Mk. XI could reach a maximum speed of 422 mph at 27,000 ft, with the ability to climb to 20,000 ft in 5 min. The PR Mk. XI used a new "Universal" camera mount consisting in a pair of oblique cameras mounted in underwing blisters outboard of each wheel well.

Spitfire Mk. XII = Luftwaffe hit & run attacks on Channel Coast targets, primarily by FW-190s, prompted another significant Spitfire development, this time the installation of a 1,735 hp Rolls Royce Griffon IIB engine in a Mk. V airframe (registration DP845). Production Mk. XIIs were modified from Mk. Vc, IX and VIII contracts, and all examples used the pointed-tip, broad-chord rudder of the Mk. VIII. With a supercharged Griffon III engine and a four-bladed Rotol propeller of either Dural or Jablo (wood composite) construction the plane was 31 ft 10 in. long. The Mk. XII used clipped "e" wings, with either 2x cannon in the internal gun bay (unlike normal "e" wing use with bomb racks) or augmented the cannons with 4x .303 machine guns. The first Mk. XIIs reached Nos. 41 and 91 Squadrons in January 1943 and the Mk. XII was used only in the UK. During its produciton run various changes were made including the relocation of the IFF antenna to a rod under the right-side wing, the use of 4-spoked wheels (rather than 5-spoked wheels on earlier models), the removal of the upper wing wheel well bulges made possible by the addition of bulged wheel doors, the addition of elevator horn balances, and the introduction of link type oleo legs. Because the prop rotated clockwise when viewed from the front, rather than the counter-clockwise rotation of the Merlin, considerable left-rudder and trim was needed for take-off. About 27,000 hours were spent in design and 16,000 in jigs and tools.

Spitfire PR Mk. XIII = Designed as a low-altitude, photo-reconnaissance version of the PR Mk. VI. the Spitfire PR Mk. XIII was converted from Mk. IIa, Va, Vb and PR Mk. VII airframes, with 26 examples being completed with an 4x .303 machine gun armament. With additional fuel tanks the range could be extended to 700 miles. A dozen Mk. XIIIs were used by shore-based Fleet Air Arm units, while four RAF squadrons operated the type.

Spitfire Mk. XIV-XIX

Spitfire F Mk. XIVc = Based on the Mk. VIII airframe and powered by the Griffon 65 ot 66 engine driving a five-bladed Rotol propeller, the Mk. XIV was the first Griffon model to be mass produced. The first Mk. XIvs were fitted with the "c" wing and were restricted to a bomb load of up to 500 lbs on the fuselage rack, with no wing bombs. Additionally employed the original fuselage and canopy design. The exhaust stacks were changed from flanged types to a strait tube design. The new intercooler required larger underwing radiators and internal fuel capacity was increased with the addition of a pair of 13 gal leading edge wing tanks. The first machines went to No. 610 (County of Chester) Squadron in January 1994 a total of 957 Mk. XIVs were built and equipped 37 RAF squadrons. Some machines served well into the post-war period and it was the most widely produced and used of the Griffon Spitfires. About 2,600 man hours in design and a further 1,700 in jigs and tools.

Spitfire F Mk. XIVe = After the first few examples, Mk. XIVs used the "e" wing and were capable of carrying a total of 1,000 lb of bombs on wing and fuselage racks. They also used the cut-down fuselage and bubble-canopy used on the FR Mk. XIV.

Spitfire FR Mk. XIVe = The photo-reconnaissance version of the Mk. XIV used the "e" wing exclusively, with most also being clipped for decreased drag. The FR Mk. XIV model introduced the cut-down fuselage and bublle canopy that was used on later F Mk. XIVs and later Marks. To compensate for the reduced lateral stability caused by the cut-down fuselage, the rudder chord was increased by 7.25 in, while the height of the rudder was increased and "anti-balance" trim tabs fitted. An additional 31 gal fuel tank was installed along with a single F.24 oblique camera behind the pilot's seat.

Spitfire LF Mk. XVI = Essentially a late-model Mk. IX, the Mk. XVI was powered by the Merlin 266, which was a low-altitude version of the Merlin 66 built by the Packard Motor Co. in the US. The Merlin 266 first started to be installed in Mk. IX production machines in September 1944. While it was built to metric standards, the Merlin 266 used a electro-hydraullically operated supercharger instead of the electro-pneumatic superchargers used on British-built motors. Because the intercooler header tank was mounted on the engine instead of the bulkhead, the oil piping was redesigned. Additionally the internal fuel tanks were different, with a 47 gal tank in place of the 37 gal forward fuselage tank of the Mk. IX and the rear fuselage tank was either 76 gal with the original fuselage and canopy or 66 gal with the cut-down fuselage and bubble canopy. Initially fitted with the "c" wing, later models used the "e" wing and had late-model bubble canopy and cut-down fuselage. A total of 1,053 Mk. XVIs were built.

Spitfire F Mk. XVIII = The Mk. XVIII was the last model based on the original airframe and was powered by either the Griffon 65 or the 2,375 hp Griffon 67, driving a five-blade Rotol propeller. All Mk. XVIIIs used the cut-down fuselage and bubble canopy, and were fitted with standard length "e" wings, stressed to carry up to 1,000 lbs of bombs on wing and fuselage racks, or up to 4x Mk. 8 or Mk. 9 rockets on underwing hardpoints. About 300 Mk. XVIIIs of all types were built, with the majority seeing service in the Mediterranean and Far Eastern theaters.

Spitfire FR Mk. XVIII = The photo-recon version of the Mk. XVIII used the one oblique and two vertical camera racks of the PR Mk. XIX, though all cameras were usually not used at the same time.

Spitfire PR Mk. XIX = Because German jets were starting to intercept photo-recon flights, a pressurized cockpit was needed for extended operations at the 42,000 ft altitude required to evade the jets. The first 25 machines were powered by the Griffon 65, lacked the pressurized cockpit in a standard height fuselage, and began to reach service units in June 1944. While not tropicalized, 16 of these were sent to overseas units, as it had been intended from the outset for use in all theaters. The remaining 200 machines were powered by the Griffon 66 and had an extra fuel tank in each wing. Almost all the remaining Mk. XIXs used the pressurization system, with the visual differences being the deletion of the small cockpit door on the left side of the fuselage and the addition of a small air intake on the left side of the nose beneath the exhaust stacks to provide air for the pressurization system. Camera installations were either two fanned vertical F.52s with 20 or 36 in lenses, two vertical F.8 cameras with 20 in lenses, or two vertical F.24s with 14 in lenses and a single port-facing oblique F.24 with an 8 or 14 in lens. Internal fuel capacity was over 250 gal and 30, 45, 90 or 170 gal drop tanks could be employed. With internal fuel, the PR Mk. XIX had a range of 1,085 miles at normal cruising speed and 1,550 miles with the 170 gal external tank.

Spitfire Mk. XX-24

Spitfire Mk. XX = DP845

Spitfire F Mk. 21 = The Spitfire Mk. 21 was a departure from previous models in that it saw an abandonment of the roman numeral numbering system and in that it used a significantly redesigned wing, so much so that it was suggested the name of the plane be changed from Spitfire to Victor. The RAF totally abandoned the use of machine guns and the wings were designed to house 4x 20 mm cannons, two in each wing. The landing gear was strengthened to handle the additional weight, made longer to handle larger propellers, and moved further outboard to give a wider track on the ground. When the main landing gear was retracted, the wheels were entirely covered by doors for the first time, which reduced drag. Based on the original tall fuselage with stepped canopy enclosure, the Mk. 21 was powered by either the Griffon 61 with a five-blade propeller or a 2,045 hp Merlin 85 driving a pair of three-blade contra-rotating Rotol props. Although 3,000 machines were ordered, only 100 were built at Castle Bromwich, with deliveries beginning in September 1944.

Spitfire F Mk. 22 = The Spitfire Mk. 22 was almost identical to the Mk. 21, but used the cut-down fuselage and bubble canopy of the later Mk. XIV and had the maximum weight slightly increased by 60 lb to 11,350 lb. The total bomb carrying limit was 1,500 lb. and the production run of 260 machines commenced on 21 March 1945 and most were assigned to Auxilliary Air Force squadrons, with the rest going to foreign air forces.

Spitfire F Mk. 24 = The Spitfire Mk 24 was essentially the same as the Mk. 22. The major change was the ability to carry rockets under the wings the the gun system saw minor improvements, including the change to an electrical firing system instead pneumatic system employed on prevous Marks. Only 54 machines were produced over a two-year period and No. 80 Squadron was the only unit to re-equip with the type. No. 80 Squadron used their Mk. 24s in Germany during the occupation and were later shipped to the Far East, where they were painted with black and white stripes for use on the fringes of the Korean War.

Seafire

Spitfire Mk. Vb (hooked) = A group of 48 Spitfire Mk. Vb fighters with Vokes filters was transfered from the RAF to the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm in 1941 for evaluation and training in carrier ops with the type. 45 of these had an "A Frame" type arrestor hook and internal strengthening to handle the loads associated with arrestor hook use. In part because the weight increase of the improvements was only 5%, the performance was not adversely affected and the decision was made to create the Seafire.

Seafire Mk. Ib = Another 118 Spitfire Mk. Vb fighters with Vokes filters were transfered to the RNFAA and 116 were converted to becme the Seafire Mk. Ib. An arrestor hook was added and sling points were installed, along with strengthening to support their use for carrier operatoins and aircraft lighter handling. The electrics were upgraded to use a naval high frequency radio and IFF equipment, as well as the addition of a Type 72 homing beacon. The conversion work was performed by Air Service Training at Hamble and Cunliffe-Owen at Eastleigh, in Hampshire. The Spitfire Mk. Ib was used primarily for training purposes, but also equipped 842 Squadron on HMS Furios between October 1942 and September 1944. About 10,000 man hours were expended in the design of the Seafire Ib and another 18,000 used to produce the jigs and tools necessary for production.

Seafire Mk. IIc = The Seafire Mk. IIc was produced by Supermarine and Lysander at the same time the Seafire Mk. Ib conversions were created and the first models of each were delivered on the same day, 15 June 1942. The only major difference between the IIc and Ib models was the addition of catapult spools and the associated strengthening on the factory produced IIc model. All 262 Seafire IIs were produced with the "c" wing and were powered by either the 1,470 hp Merlin 45 or the 1,415 hp Merlin 46 engine. Because of the increased weight of the factory produced model, the Seafire IIc was slower and had a poorer climb rate than the Seafire Ib conversions, even without the Vokes filter installation. An engine boost modification was developed to give it the addition of 16 lb/sq in manifold pressure, but the change was also applied to the similarly powered Seafire Ib and thus the IIc was still the slower of the two.

Seafire L Mk. IIc = In late 1942 it was decided to make an effort to improve the Seafire's low-altitude performance and, starting in March 1943, the 1,645 hp Merlin 32 was installed on production Seafire IIc models. With boost pressure giving an increase of 18 lb/sq in and a four-blade Rotol propeller installed, the Seafire L Mk. IIc could reach 333 mph at 5,000 ft.

Seafire LR Mk. IIc = The equivalent of the Spitfire PR Mk. XIII, the Seafire LR Mk. IIc was equipped with a single oblique F.24 camera in the fuselage, but was otherwise identical to the Seafire L IIc, with the Merlin 32 engine installation. About 30 examples were converted from production L IIc models, with examples reaching service units in late 1943.

Seafire F Mk. III = As early as 1939 work had begun on a wig-folding system, which was incorporated in the Seafire Mk. III. The win was folded manually to 30 degrees beyond vertical and external telescopic jury struts were used to hold it in place once folded. The wing employed a double fold, with the main hinge being just inboard of the cannon bay and the wing-tips folding downward. Utilizing a basic "c" wing, the outer cannons were usually removed to save weight. The Mk. III was produced by Westland and Cunliffe-Owen. The first 30 models produced by Lysander and the first 2 produed by Cunliffe-Owen were fitted with fixed standard "c" wings and were originally designated Mk. IIc (Hybrid). These were later refitted with the folding wing. The F model used the Merlin 55 engine, which was optimized for medium to high-altitudes. A total of 1,218 Seafire Mk. IIIs of all types were produced,, plus the 32 Mk. IIc (Hybrid) models. The Mk. III was the last Merlin powered Seafire to see service.

Seafire L Mk. III = The Seafire Mk. III was intended for use at low to medium-altitudes and was fitted with the Merlin 55M engine, which produced 1,585 hp at 2,750 ft. Starting with the 90th example, all were fitted with the Vokes Aero-Vee filter. All examples were capable of carrying single 500 lb bomb under the fuselage, while later variants were fitted with zero-length rocket-launchers and used the lighter Hispano Mk. V cannons.

Seafire FR Mk. III = The photo-reconnaissance version of the Seafire III was powered by the Merlin 32 engine and was fitted with two F.24 cameras. All 129 production models were made by Cunliffe-Owen, while several Lysander models were retrofitted to the FR Mk. III standard.

Seafire F Mk. XV = The Mk. XV was the last Seafire produced during World War II, though it didn't reach service units until September 1945, and was the first model to be powered by the Rolls-Royce Griffon engine. The Mk. XV was an amalgamation of several Spitfire Marks with the wings of the Seafire L III, the fuselage of the Spitfire V, the large tail section with retractible gear of the Spitfire VIII, the wing-root fuel tanks of the Spitfire IX, and the Griffon engine equipment and fittings of the Spitfire XII. The Seafire F Mk. XV was powered by the Griffon VI engine, which produced 1,815 hp with maximum boost at take-off. Internal fuel capacity was 100 gal, but external fuel was limited to 50 gal due to weight limitations on the landing gear legs. The opposite rotation of the propeller on the Griffon engine caused numerous operational difficulties and it was temporarily banned from carrier operations in mid-1946 until a modified supercharger clutch could be installed, starting in January 1947. The last 30 models used the cut-down fuselage and bubble canopy of the later Spitfire Marks.

Seafire F Mk. 17 = Externally similar to the last 30 Seafire Mk. XVs with the bubble canopy, the Seafire 17 had several improvements that made it superior to the previous Mark. Chief among these wer stronger and longer main landing gear legs, allowing greater ground clearance for the propeller and ordnance, and allowing a greater gross weight. Fuel capacity was increased by the addition of a 33 gal fuel tank behind the pilot's seat. External fuel consisted of a 50 gal tank under the fuselage and/or a pair of 22.5 gal "slipper" tanks under the wings, which though jettisonable, could be retained during all maneuvers. Ordnance consisted of a 500 lb bomb under the fuselage and/or a pair of 250 lb bombs inboard of the slipper wing fuel tanks. The Seafire 17 began reaching service units in 1946 and served with front- and second-line units until 1954.

Seafire FR Mk. 17 = The photo-reconnaissance version of the Mk. 17 was fitted with a pair of F.24 oblique cameras aft of the pilot's seat, in place of the 33 gal fuel tank on the F model.

Seafire F Mk. 45 = Essentially a navalized version of the Spitfire 21, the Seafire 45 had the same problems as the Seafire XV, with the five-blade propeller making th torque effect even worse on the narrow flight deck. Lacking folding wings, the only asset was improved performance a four-cannon armament installation. Only 50 examples were built.

Seafire FR Mk. 45 = The photo-reconnaissance version of the Seafire 45.

Seafire FR Mk. 46 = Similar to the Spitfire 22, the FR 46 was navalized with the addition of RATOG mounting points, catapult strops un the wheel wells, and provision for a pair of 22.5 gal "slipper" fuel tanks under the wings, bringing total fuel capacity to 228 gal. The contra-rotating propeller solved the torque problems and the type was cleared for carrier service. However, only 24 were produced and none reached front-line service.

Seafire FR Mk. 47 = The last Seafire model represented the peak of Spitfire/Seafire and Griffon engine development, resulting in performance that exceeded that of the early jet fighters. A deeper engine cowl included a ram air supercharger intake, moved from the inboard wing leading edges. The fuselage was fitted with the fin and rudder unit of the Spiteful and, after the 14th production model, wing folding was performed hydraulically. A 500 lb bomb or 8x 60 lb rockets or a Mk. IX depth charge could be mounted under each wing. While a few early models were powered by the carburetor fueled Griffon 87 engine, later models were powered by the fuel-injected Griffon 88, which produced 2,350 hp. The use of a flush-mounted 90 gal fuel tank under the fuselage boosted total fuel capacity to 318 gal and allowed a maximum range of 1000 miles. Performance included a maximum speed of 451 mph at 20,000 ft and a ceiling of 43,100 ft. The addition of 12 inches to the landing gear track made the Seafire 47 the most stable and carrier capable of the entire line. The last Seafire 47 rolled off the assembly line in March 1947, ending 12 years and 9 months of Spitfire/Seafire production, with a total of 20,351 Spitfires and 2,408 Seafires produced.

Individual Model Data

Spitfire IA

Role: Single-seat Interceptor Fighter

Engine(s): 1x 1,030 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin III twelve-cylinder Vee liquid-cooled engine

Armament: 8x .303 cal Browning machine guns with 300 rpg

Ordnance: none

Maximum Speeds: Maximum speed 365 mph at 19,000 ft, maximum cruising speed 315 mph at 20,000 ft, economical cruising speed 210 mph

Service Ceiling: 34,000 ft

Range: 575 miles at economical cruising speed

Initial Climb Rate: 2,500 ft/min

Time to Altitude: 9.4 min to 20,000 ft

Empty Weight: 4,810 lb

Normal Weight: 5,784 lb

Maximum Weight: ???

Wingspan: 36 ft 10 in

Length: 29 ft 11 in

Height: 11 ft 5 in at airscrew

Fuselage: all-metal, stress-skin

Wings: single-spar with fabric-covered control surfaces

Source: Green, William; Warplanes of the Second World War, Fighters, Volume Two; Hanover House, Garden City, NY; 1960.

Spitfire IIA

Role: Single-seat Interceptor Fighter

Engine(s): 1x 1,175 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin XII twelve-cylinder Vee liquid-cooled engine

Armament: 8x .303 cal Browning machine guns with 350 rpg

Ordnance: none

Maximum Speeds: Maximum speed 357 mph at 17,000 ft, maximum cruising speed 310 mph at 20,000 ft, economical cruising speed 195 mph

Service Ceiling: 37,200 ft

Range: 500 miles at economical cruising speed

Initial Climb Rate: 2,500 ft/min

Time to Altitude: 7 min to 20,000 ft

Empty Weight: 4,900 lb

Normal Weight: 5,900 lb

Maximum Weight: 6,317 lb

Wingspan: 36 ft 10 in

Length: 29 ft 11 in

Height: 11 ft 5 in at airscrew

Wing Area: 242 sq ft

Fuselage: all-metal, stress-skin

Wings: single-spar with fabric-covered control surfaces

See Also: Supermarine Spitfire Mk IA

Source: Green, William; Warplanes of the Second World War, Fighters, Volume Two; Hanover House, Garden City, NY; 1960.

Spitfire Vc

Role: Single-seat Interceptor Fighter and Fighter-bomber

Engine(s): 1x 1,470 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 45 twelve-cylinder Vee liquid-cooled engine

Armament: 2x 20 mm Hispano cannon with 120 rpg and 4x .303 cal Browning machine guns with 350 rpg or 4x 20 mm Hispano cannon with 120 rpg

Ordnance: 1x 500 lb or 2x 250 lb bombs

Maximum Speeds: Maximum speed 374 mph at 13,000 ft, maximum cruising speed 322 mph at 20,000 ft, economical cruising speed 226 mph

Service Ceiling: 37,000 ft

Range: 470 miles (internal), 1,135 miles (external)

Time to Altitude: 7.5 min to 20,000 ft

Empty Weight: 5,100 lb

Normal Weight: 6,785 lb

Wingspan: 36 ft 10 in

Length: 29 ft 11 in

Height: 11 ft 5 in at airscrew

Wing Area: 242 sq ft

Fuselage: all-metal, stress-skin

Wings: single-spar with fabric-covered control surfaces

See Also: Supermarine Spitfire FS Mk Vb

Source: Green, William; Warplanes of the Second World War, Fighters, Volume Two; Hanover House, Garden City, NY; 1960.

Spitfire LF Vc

Role: Single-seat Interceptor Fighter and Fighter-bomber

Engine(s): 1x 1,585 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 45M twelve-cylinder Vee liquid-cooled engine

Armament: 2x 20 mm Hispano cannon with 120 rpg and 4x .303 cal Browning machine guns with 350 rpg or 4x 20 mm Hispano cannon with 120 rpg

Ordnance: 1x 500 lb or 2x 250 lb bombs

Maximum Speeds: Maximum speed 357 mph at 6,000 ft, maximum cruising speed 272 mph at 20,000 ft, economical cruising speed 195 mph

Service Ceiling: 36,500 ft

Range: 475 miles (internal), 990 miles (external)

Time to Altitude: 1.6 min to 5,000 ft

Empty Weight: 5,100 lb

Normal Weight: 6,785 lb

Wingspan: 32 ft 7 in

Length: 29 ft 11 in

Height: 11 ft 5 in at airscrew

Wing Area: 231 sq ft

Fuselage: all-metal, stress-skin

Wings: single-spar with fabric-covered control surfaces

See Also: Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk Vb

Source: Green, William; Warplanes of the Second World War, Fighters, Volume Two; Hanover House, Garden City, NY; 1960.

Spitfire VI

Role: Single-seat Interceptor Fighter

Engine(s): 1x 1,415 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 47 twelve-cylinder Vee liquid-cooled engine

Armament: 2x 20 mm Hispano cannon with 120 rpg and 4x .303 cal Browning machine guns with 350 rpg

Ordnance: none

Maximum Speeds: Maximum speed 364 mph at 22,000 ft, maximum cruising speed 325 mph at 20,000 ft, economical cruising speed 239 mph at 20,000 ft

Service Ceiling: 40,000 ft

Range: 510 miles (internal), 1,170 miles (external)

Time to Altitude: 8 min to 20,000 ft

Empty Weight: 5,300 lb

Normal Weight: ???

Maximum Weight: 7,178 lb

Wingspan: 40 ft 2 in

Length: 30 ft 3 in

Height: 11 ft 5 in at airscrew

Wing Area: 248.5 sq ft

Fuselage: all-metal, stress-skin

Wings: single-spar with fabric-covered control surfaces

Source: Green, William; Warplanes of the Second World War, Fighters, Volume Two; Hanover House, Garden City, NY; 1960.

Spitfire VII

Role: Single-seat High-altitude Interceptor Fighter

Engine(s): 1x 1,710 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 64 twelve-cylinder Vee liquid-cooled engine

Armament: 2x 20 mm Hispano cannon with 120 rpg and 4x .303 cal Browning machine guns with 350 rpg

Ordnance: none

Maximum Speeds: Maximum speed 408 mph at 25,000 ft, 382 mph at 12,500 ft, maximum cruising speed 324 mph at 20,000 ft, economical cruising speed 220 mph

Service Ceiling: 43,000 ft

Range: 660 miles (internal), 1,180 miles (external)

Time to Altitude: 7.1 min to 20,000 ft

Empty Weight: 6,000 lb

Normal Weight: ???

Maximum Weight: 7,875 lb

Wingspan: 40 ft 2 in

Length: 31 ft 4 in

Height: 12 ft 8 in at airscrew

Wing Area: 248.5 sq ft

Fuselage: all-metal, stress-skin

Wings: single-spar with fabric-covered control surfaces

Source: Green, William; Warplanes of the Second World War, Fighters, Volume Two; Hanover House, Garden City, NY; 1960.

Spitfire F VIII

Role: Single-seat Interceptor and Fighter-bomber

Engine(s): 1x 1,710 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 63 twelve-cylinder Vee liquid-cooled engine

Armament: 2x 20 mm Hispano cannon with 120 rpg and 4x .303 cal Browning machine guns with 350 rpg or 4x 20 mm Hispano cannon with 120 rpg

Ordnance: 1x 500 lb and 2x 250 lb bombs

Maximum Speeds: Maximum speed 408 mph at 25,000 ft, 382 mph at 12,500 ft, maximum cruising speed 324 mph at 20,000 ft

Service Ceiling: 43,000 ft

Range: 660 miles (internal), 1,180 miles (external)

Time to Altitude: 7 min to 20,000 ft

Empty Weight: 5,800 lb

Normal Weight: ???

Maximum Weight: 7,767 lb

Wingspan: 36 ft 10 in

Length: 31 ft 4 in

Height: 12 ft 8 in at airscrew

Wing Area: 242 sq ft

Fuselage: all-metal, stress-skin

Wings: single-spar with fabric-covered control surfaces

Source: Green, William; Warplanes of the Second World War, Fighters, Volume Two; Hanover House, Garden City, NY; 1960.

Spitfire LF VIII

Role: Single-seat Interceptor and Fighter-bomber

Engine(s): 1x 1,720 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 66 twelve-cylinder Vee liquid-cooled engine

Armament: 2x 20 mm Hispano cannon with 120 rpg and 4x .303 cal Browning machine guns with 350 rpg or 4x 20 mm Hispano cannon with 120 rpg

Ordnance: 1x 500 lb and 2x 250 lb bombs

Maximum Speeds: Maximum speed 404 mph at 21,000 ft, 384 mph at 10,500 ft, maximum cruising speed 328 mph at 20,000 ft

Service Ceiling: 41,500 ft

Range: 660 miles (internal), 1,180 miles (external)

Time to Altitude: 6.7 min to 20,000 ft

Empty Weight: 5,800 lb

Normal Weight: ???

Maximum Weight: 7,767 lb

Wingspan: 32 ft 7 in

Length: 31 ft 4 in

Height: 12 ft 8 in at airscrew

Wing Area: 231 sq ft

Fuselage: all-metal, stress-skin

Wings: single-spar with fabric-covered control surfaces

Source: Green, William; Warplanes of the Second World War, Fighters, Volume Two; Hanover House, Garden City, NY; 1960.

Spitfire LF IXe and LF XVIe

Role: Single-seat Interceptor and Fighter-bomber

Engine(s): 1x 1,720 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 66 twelve-cylinder Vee liquid-cooled engine

Armament: 2x 20 mm Hispano cannon with 120 rpg and 2x .50 cal Browning machine guns with 250 rpg

Ordnance: 1x 500 lb and 2x 250 lb bombs

Maximum Speeds: Maximum speed 404 mph at 21,000 ft, 384 mph at 10,500 ft, maximum cruising speed 328 mph at 20,000 ft

Service Ceiling: 42,500 ft

Range: 434 miles (internal), 990 miles (external)

Time to Altitude: 6.4 min to 20,000 ft

Empty Weight: 5,800 lb

Normal Weight: ???

Maximum Weight: 7,500 lb

Wingspan: 32 ft 7 in

Length: 31 ft 4 in

Height: 12 ft 8 in at airscrew

Wing Area: 231 sq ft

Fuselage: all-metal, stress-skin

Wings: single-spar with fabric-covered control surfaces

See Also: Supermarine Spitfire F Mk IXc, Supermarine Spitfire F Mk IXe

Source: Green, William; Warplanes of the Second World War, Fighters, Volume Two; Hanover House, Garden City, NY; 1960.

Spitfire HF IXe

Role: Single-seat Interceptor and Fighter-bomber

Engine(s): 1x 1,710 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 70 twelve-cylinder Vee liquid-cooled engine

Armament: 2x 20 mm Hispano cannon with 120 rpg and 2x .50 cal Browning machine guns with 250 rpg

Ordnance: 1x 500 lb and 2x 250 lb bombs

Maximum Speeds: Maximum speed 416 mph at 27,500 ft, 396 mph at 15,000 ft, maximum cruising speed 322 mph at 20,000 ft

Service Ceiling: 45,000 ft

Range: 434 miles (internal), 990 miles (external)

Time to Altitude: 6.4 min to 20,000 ft

Empty Weight: 5,800 lb

Normal Weight: ???

Maximum Weight: 7,500 lb

Wingspan: 36 ft 10 in

Length: 31 ft 4 in

Height: 12 ft 8 in at airscrew

Wing Area: 242 sq ft

Fuselage: all-metal, stress-skin

Wings: single-spar with fabric-covered control surfaces

Source: Green, William; Warplanes of the Second World War, Fighters, Volume Two; Hanover House, Garden City, NY; 1960.

Spitfire XII

Role: Single-seat Interceptor Fighter and Fighter-bomber

Engine(s): 1x 1,735 hp Rolls-Royce Griffon III or IV twelve-cylinder Vee liquid-cooled engine

Armament: 2x 20 mm Hispano cannon with 120 rpg and 4x .303 cal Browning machine guns with 350 rpg

Ordnance: 1x 500 lb bomb

Maximum Speeds: Maximum speed 393 mph at 18,000 ft, 372 mph at 5,500 ft, maximum cruising speed 364 mph at 20,000 ft

Service Ceiling: 40,000 ft

Range: 329 miles at 263 mph (internal), 493 miles (external)

Time to Altitude: 6.7 min to 20,000 ft

Empty Weight: 5,600 lb

Normal Weight: ???

Maximum Weight: 7,400 lb

Wingspan: 32 ft 7 in

Length: 31 ft 10 in

Height: 11 ft 0 in at airscrew

Wing Area: 231 sq ft

Fuselage: all-metal, stress-skin

Wings: single-spar with fabric-covered control surfaces

Source: Green, William; Warplanes of the Second World War, Fighters, Volume Two; Hanover House, Garden City, NY; 1960.

Spitfire XIVe

Role: Single-seat Interceptor Fighter and Fighter-bomber

Engine(s): 1x 2,050 hp Rolls-Royce Griffon 65 twelve-cylinder Vee liquid-cooled engine

Armament: 2x 20 mm Hispano cannon with 120 rpg and 2x .50 cal Browning machine guns with 250 rpg

Ordnance: 1x 500 lb and 2x 250 lb bombs

Maximum Speeds: Maximum speed 448 mph at 26,000 ft, 417 mph at 12,000 ft, maximum cruising speed 362 mph at 20,000 ft

Service Ceiling: 44,500 ft

Range: 460 miles at 245 mph (internal), 850 miles (external)

Time to Altitude: 7 min to 20,000 ft

Empty Weight: 6,600 lb

Normal Weight: ???

Maximum Weight: 8,500 lb

Wingspan: 36 ft 10 in

Length: 32 ft 8 in

Height: 12 ft 9 in at airscrew

Wing Area: 242 sq ft

Fuselage: all-metal, stress-skin

Wings: single-spar with fabric-covered control surfaces

See Also: Supermarine Spitfire F Mk XIVe

Source: Green, William; Warplanes of the Second World War, Fighters, Volume Two; Hanover House, Garden City, NY; 1960.

Spitfire 21

Role: Single-seat Interceptor Fighter and Fighter-bomber

Engine(s): 1x 2,050 hp Rolls-Royce Griffon 61 twelve-cylinder Vee liquid-cooled engine

Armament: 4x 20 mm Hispano cannon with 150 rpg outboard and 175 rpg inboard

Ordnance: 1x 500 lb and 2x 250 lb bombs

Maximum Speeds: Maximum speed 454 mph at 26,000 ft, 420 mph at 12,000 ft, maximum cruising speed 385 mph at 20,000 ft

Service Ceiling: 43,500 ft

Range: 480 miles at 284 mph (internal), 880 miles (external)

Time to Altitude: 8 min to 20,000 ft

Empty Weight: 6,900 lb

Normal Weight: ???

Maximum Weight: 9,200 lb

Wingspan: 36 ft 11 in

Length: 32 ft 8 in

Height: 13 ft 6 in at airscrew

Wing Area: 244 sq ft

Fuselage: all-metal, stress-skin

Wings: single-spar with fabric-covered control surfaces

Source: Green, William; Warplanes of the Second World War, Fighters, Volume Two; Hanover House, Garden City, NY; 1960.

Spitfire 22/24

Role: Single-seat Interceptor Fighter and Fighter-bomber

Engine(s): 1x 2,050 hp Rolls-Royce Griffon 61 with 5-blade Rotol propeller (or Griffon 85 with 6-blade contraprop installation) twelve-cylinder Vee liquid-cooled engine

Armament: 4x 20 mm Hispano cannon with 150 rpg outboard and 175 rpg inboard

Ordnance: 1x 500 lb and 2x 250 lb bombs

Maximum Speeds: Maximum speed 45 mph at 19,000 ft, 449 mph at 25,000 ft, 390 mph at sea level, maximum diving speed 520 mph

Service Ceiling: 43,000 ft

Range: 580 miles at 230 mph (internal), 965 miles (external)

Time to Altitude: 8 min to 20,000 ft

Empty Weight: 7,160 lb

Normal Weight: 9,900 lb

Maximum Weight: 11,290 lb

Wingspan: 36 ft 11 in

Length: 32 ft 8 in

Height: 13 ft 6 in at airscrew

Wing Area: 234.6 sq ft

Fuselage: all-metal, stress-skin

Wings: single-spar with fabric-covered control surfaces

Source: Scutts, Jerry; Spitfire In Action; Squadron-Signal Publications, Carrollton, TX, 1980.

Seafire F III

Role: Single-seat Shipboard Fighter-bomber

Engine(s): 1x 1,470 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 55 twelve-cylinder Vee liquid-cooled engine

Armament: 2x 20 mm Hispano cannon with 120 rpg and 4x .303 cal Browning machine guns with 350 rpg

Ordnance: 1x 500 lb or 2x 250 lb bombs

Maximum Speeds: Maximum speed 352 mph at 12,250 ft, maximum cruising speed 310 mph at 20,000 ft

Service Ceiling: 33,800 ft

Range: 465 miles at 218 mph at 20,000 ft (internal), 725 miles (external)

Time to Altitude: 8.1 min to 20,000 ft

Empty Weight: 5,400 lb

Normal Weight: 7,100 lb

Maximum Weight: ????

Wingspan: 36 ft 10 in

Length: 30 ft 3 in

Height: 11 ft 2 in at airscrew

Wing Area: 242 sq ft

Fuselage: all-metal, stress-skin

Wings: single-spar with fabric-covered control surfaces

See Also: Supermarine Seafire F Mk IIIb

Source: Green, William; Warplanes of the Second World War, Fighters, Volume Two; Hanover House, Garden City, NY; 1960.

Seafire XV

Role: Single-seat Shipboard Fighter-bomber

Engine(s): 1x 1,850 hp Rolls-Royce Griffon VI twelve-cylinder Vee liquid-cooled engine

Armament: 2x 20 mm Hispano cannon with 120 rpg and 4x .303 cal Browning machine guns with 350 rpg

Ordnance: 1x 500 lb or 2x 250 lb bombs

Maximum Speeds: Maximum speed 383 mph at 13,250 ft, maximum cruising speed 334 mph at 20,000 ft

Service Ceiling: 35,500 ft

Range: 430 miles at 255 mph at 20,000 ft (internal), 640 miles (external)

Time to Altitude: 7 min to 20,000 ft

Empty Weight: 5,400 lb

Normal Weight: 7,100 lb

Maximum Weight: ????

Wingspan: 36 ft 10 in

Length: 32 ft 3 in

Height: 10 ft 8 in at airscrew

Wing Area: 242 sq ft

Fuselage: all-metal, stress-skin

Wings: single-spar with fabric-covered control surfaces

Source: Green, William; Warplanes of the Second World War, Fighters, Volume Two; Hanover House, Garden City, NY; 1960.

Seafire 47

Role: Single-seat Shipboard Fighter-bomber

Engine(s): 1x 2,350 hp Rolls-Royce Griffon 88 twelve-cylinder Vee liquid-cooled engine

Armament: 4x 20 mm Hispano Mk. V cannon

Ordnance: 2x 250 lb or 2x 500 lb bombs or 8x 60 lb rocket projectiles or 1x Mk.IX depth charge

Maximum Speeds: Maximum speed 451 mph at 20,000 ft, 401 mph at 5,000 ft, maximum cruising speed 334 mph at 20,000 ft

Stall Speeds: 86-88 mph clean, 74-76 mph with flaps and gear down

Service Ceiling: 43,100 ft

Range: 405 miles (internal), 1,475 miles (external)

Initial Climbrate" 4,800 ft / min

Time to Altitude: 4.8 min to 20,000 ft

Empty Weight: 7,625 lb

Normal Weight: 10,200 lb

Maximum Weight: 12,750 lb

Wingspan: 36 ft 11 in, 19 ft 1 in folded

Length: 34 ft 4 in

Height: 12 ft 9 in at airscrew

Wing Area: 243.6 sq ft

Fuselage: all-metal, stress-skin

Wings: single-spar with fabric-covered control surfaces

Source: Scutts, Jerry; Spitfire In Action; Squadron-Signal Publications, Carrollton, TX, 1980.

Sources

Scutts, Jerry; Spitfire In Action; Squadron-Signal Publications, Carrollton, TX, 1980.

Green, William; Warplanes of the Second World War, Fighters, Volume Two; Hanover House, Garden City, NY; 1960.

Green, William; Famous Fighters of the Second World War; Hanover House, Garden City, NY; 1960.

Dibbs, John and Holmes, Tony; Spitfire -Flying Legend-; Osprey Aerospace, London; 1996.

See Also

Aircraft Manufacturers During World War II

Supermarine Aviation Works, Ltd.

Fighter Ace Planes Inventory

Supermarine Spitfire Mk IA

Supermarine Spitfire FS Mk Vb

Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk Vb

Supermarine Spitfire F Mk IXc

Supermarine Spitfire F Mk IXe

Supermarine Spitfire F Mk XIVe

Supermarine Seafire F Mk IIIb