all spitfire variants

There was a wire 'gate' fitted, which the pilot had to break to set the engine to emergency power, this acted as an indicator that emergency power had been used and would be replaced by mechanics on the ground. The name Seafire was derived from the abbreviation of the longer name Sea Spitfire. "Spitfire: Simply Superb part three" 1985, p. 189. A four bladed de Havilland propeller was fitted along with an Aboukir filter, a larger 9.5 gallon oil tank and extended wingtips. Some 300 F Mk 18s and FR Mk 18s were built, before production ended in early 1946. Also known as the "Universal wing" the new design was standard on the majority of Spitfires built from mid-1942. An extra 29 gal (132 L) fuel tank was installed in the rear fuselage. Although the Spitfire continued to improve in speed and armament . The early MkIs were powered by the 1,030hp (768kW) Merlin Mk II engine driving an Aero-Products "Watts" 10ft 8 in (3.3 m) diameter two-blade wooden fixed-pitch propeller, weighing 83lb (38kg). The 208th production Spitfire I was sold to France and in June 1939 was delivered for evaluation. [65] The Merlin XII was cooled by a 70% to 30% water glycol mix, rather than pure glycol used for earlier Merlin versions.[66]. This article adopts the convention of using Roman numerals for the Mks I-XVI and Arabic numerals for the Mks 1724. In 1951, Hainan Island (People's Republic of China) was targeted at the behest of US Naval Intelligence for RAF overflights, using Spitfire PR Mk 19s based at Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong. Spitfire Mk.IX RAF Camouflage. A larger diameter oil cooler was fitted under the port wing. Once the pilot was in, the canopy was locked in place with four toggles and sealed with an inflatable rubber tube. [91]", One Vc (trop) BP985 was modified by 103 MU as a high altitude fighter capable of intercepting the Ju 86P photo reconnaissance aircraft which were overflying Allied naval bases in Egypt. Only one armament suite could be fitted to a Spitfire with the B-type wing: Two 20mm Hispano Mk II cannon, each with a 60-round drum, and four .303 caliber Browning machine guns in the outer positions, with 350 rpg. It was hoped that this would improve the pilot's view over the nose in flight and increase the high speed and dive performance of the aircraft. This conversion carried an F24 camera in a fairing under each wing. All this meant that the throttle needed to be handled judiciously on take-off but, once in the air, the aeroplane had a great feeling of power about it; it seemed to be the airborne equivalent of a very powerful sports car and was great fun to fly. Concepts for adapting the Spitfire to take the new engine had begun as far back as October 1939; Joseph Smith felt that "The good big 'un will eventually beat the good little 'un." Powered by a Rolls-Royce RM 2SM, later known as the Merlin XX, developing 1,390hp (1,036kW) due to its two-speed supercharger, the wingspan was reduced to 30ft 6 in (9.3 m) and the area reduced to 220 square feet (20.4 sq m) while the overall length was increased to 30ft 4 in (9.2 m). The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force along with many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War and afterwards into the 1950s as both a front-line fighter and also in secondary roles. Still a lot around in 1943 Spitfire VI - 1942. I found that it had a spectacular performance doing 445 mph at 25,000 ft, with a sea-level rate of climb of over 5,000 ft per minute. The standard armament was now four 20mm Hispano IIs or the shorter, lighter Hispano V cannons, each with 150 rounds per gun. [64], Media related to Supermarine Spitfire Mark II at Wikimedia Commons, In the summer of 1939 an early Mk I K9788 was fitted with a new version of the Merlin, the XII. In the memorandum Longbottom advocated that airborne reconnaissance would be a task better suited to fast, small aircraft which would use their speed and high service ceiling to avoid detection and interception. Spitfire (Family) - War Thunder Wiki The first trial installation of the installation (modification 1029) was made in BS118, a Mark XI in November 1943. A prototype Merlin 60 two-stage engine was subsequently installed, in effect making this aircraft (renumbered the type 348) the prototype Mk IX. Wing structure and installation design changes eventually resulted in the production variants Spitfire Mk Ib and Mk IIb, which featured an armament of two 20mm cannon and 6 machine guns in a 'Type B' wing. This aircraft was repairable and started being test flown in German markings and colours at the Luftwaffe's central research facilities at Erprobungsstelle Rechlin. Otherwise the wings were Type B. Undercarriage fairings had now been fitted to the legs. Jeffrey Quill flew the first production aircraft, RB140 in October 1943: So the Mk XIV was in business, and a very fine fighter it was. The aircraft was soon renamed Mk XX, to avoid confusion with a renamed PR type, then it became the Mk XII.[14]. List of Spitfire and seafire marks along with recognition points [105], Twenty-six Mk XIIIs were converted from either PR Type G, Mk II or Mk Vs. The strengthened main undercarriage was raked forward two inches, increasing ground stability and had flaps to fully enclose the wheels when retracted. These piped additional heated air into the gun bays. With the advent of the Mk IX, few Mk Vc Spitfires saw combat over Europe. The service ceiling was 34,400ft (10,500m).[24]. Air International (article). The Supermarine Spitfire was an iconic British single-seat fighter used primarily by the RAF and many Allied countries through the Second World War and into the 1950s. It had been envisaged that much larger cameras would be installed in the fuselage immediately behind the pilot but at the time RAF engineers believed this would upset the Spitfire's centre of gravity. It was the only British fighter produced continuously throughout the war. A new desert camouflage scheme was applied. Gnarhunters; Griffin Gass "Orca Card" Part; However, constant problems with the development of the Griffon meant that the decision to proceed with building a Spitfire with this engine didn't come to fruition until 1942, with the successful flight trials of the Mk IV.[12]. Don Healy of 17 Squadron, based at Madura recalled that the Mk XIV was; a hairy beast to fly and took some getting used to. The Mk XIV differed from the Mk XII in that the longer, two-stage supercharged Griffon 65, producing 2,050hp (1,528kW), was mounted 10inches (25.4cm) further forward. [78], The Vb became the main production version of the Mark Vs. As it turned out the finished aircraft weighed some 298lb (135kg) more than a standard 1938 vintage Spitfire. Coats of a special very pale blue-green called Camoutint were applied and polished. [61] Late PR Gs were converted from Mk V airframes. Advanced Warfare: List of every Weapon Variant Cooling the more powerful engine was achieved using a pressurised water system. RELATED: Lend-Lease - 15 American And British Military Vehicles That Fought In the Red Army During WWII [100] The windscreen of production Mk VIs was the same as the type fitted to the Mark III and some Mk Vs although it was fitted with an inward opening clear-view panel on the port quarter pane. Latter long nosed spits (VIII, IX, XVI and variants) and the same radiator, while the round oil cooler was replaced with a rectangular housing the same size as the radiator, but containing the oil cooler and a small radiator for the intercooler. [64] A small number of Mk IIs were converted to Mk Vs.[nb 8], The Mk III was the first attempt to improve the basic Spitfire design and introduced several features which were used on later marks. [38], Late in 1940, a Martin-Baker designed quick-release canopy mechanism began to be retroactively fitted to all Spitfires. [100], The engine was a Rolls-Royce Merlin 47 driving a four-bladed Rotol propeller of 10ft 9 in (3.27 m) diameter; the new propeller provided increased thrust at high altitudes, where the atmosphere is much thinner. The Griffon IIB which powered the Mk IV was a single-stage supercharged engine of 1,735hp (1,293kW). Supermarine were seriously concerned because Castle Bromwich had been converted to produce Mk 21s and more were coming off the production lines daily. These arrived from late 1942 and were given the serial numbers 370 to 387, forming the XZ Esquadrilha at Tancos. [54], In the Mk I PR Type B (also known as Medium Range [MR]) conversions which followed, the F24 camera lenses were upgraded to an eight-inch (203mm) focal length, giving images up to a third larger in scale. The patches kept the gun barrels free of dirt and debris and allowed the hot air to heat the guns more efficiently. Because the first XIVs were converted from existing Mk VIII airframes the first true production serial No. In the end it was a slightly modified engine, the 65 series, which was used in the Mk XIV. [98], Other changes made were to replace the Spitfire instruments with German types, and to change the 12-volt electrical system to the German 24-volt type. The majority of the Mk Vs were built at Castle Bromwich.[76]. There it was proposed that the Spitfire's Merlin engine should be replaced by a Daimler-Benz DB 605A inverted V-12 engine; the Spitfire was sent to Echterdingen, south of Stuttgart, where Daimler-Benz operated a flight testing division. There were also zero-point fittings for rocket projectiles under the wings. The one major alteration made to this wing, soon after production started, was the incorporation of a heating system for the gun bays, to prevent the guns from freezing up at high altitudes. All military equipment was removed and the hinged gun panels, radio door and flare chute opening were replaced with removable panels. is listed. [104], The PR Mk XIII was an improvement on the earlier PR Type G with the same camera system but a new engine, the Merlin 32, which was specially rated for low-altitude flight. [100] More often than not, the Spitfire VIs were used at lower altitudes where it was outperformed by conventional Spitfires. The Merlin XII was replaced by the Mark XX, a "rescue pack" was fitted in the flare chute and smoke marker bombs were carried under the port wing. The new engine had a lower thrust-line than the Merlin and was set with 2 degrees of downthrust. The guns fired through the tape, so they were no longer sealed after combat. [5], The D type was modified for use on unarmed, long-range photo-reconnaissance versions of the Spitfire, such as the PR Mk Id (PR versions described in more detail below), with weapon bays left empty, and the relatively heavy-skinned leading edge wing structure ahead of the main spar converted to integral auxiliary fuel tanks capable of carrying 66 Imperial gallons (300 L) in addition to that stored in the fuselage tanks ahead of the cockpit. LA201's poor flight control qualities during trials in late 1944 and early 1945, led to a damning report from the Air Fighting Development Unit, it must be emphasised that although the Spitfire 21 is not a dangerous aircraft to fly, pilots must be warned in its present state it is not likely to prove a satisfactory fighter. [36] After the war, second hand Mk XIVs were exported to a number of foreign air forces; 132 went to the Royal Belgian Air Force, 70 went to the Royal Indian Air Force and 30 of its reconnaissance variant went to the Royal Thai Air Force. All Merlin I to III series engines relied on external electric power to start; a well known sight on RAF fighter airfields was the "trolley acc" (trolley accumulator)[25] which was a set of powerful batteries which could be wheeled up to aircraft. To keep cold air from blowing in via the muzzle openings in the leading edge, they were sealed with red fabric adhesive tape by ground crew while loading the ammunition trays. [79], The Vb series were the first Spitfires able to carry a range of specially designed slipper-type drop tanks which were fitted underneath the wing centre-section. [2] The many changes were made in order to fulfil Royal Air Force requirements and to successfully engage in combat with ever-improving enemy aircraft. Most weapons have 2 elites, 3 professionals, and 4 enlisted variants. Morgan and Shacklady, 2000 pp. It was a splendid aeroplane in every respect. The designers used a system of levers to shorten the undercarriage legs by about 8in (20cm) as they retracted, because the longer legs did not have enough space in which to retract; the levers extended the legs as they came down. All went according to plan until, when we were about halfway between Odiham and Farnborough and going flat out, I was beginning to overhaul the Fw 190 and the Typhoon. Catalogs. When the Mk XII was able to engage in combat it was a formidable fighter and several Fw 190s and Bf 109Gs fell victim to it. [35] This boosted the maximum speed by 25mph (40km/h) at sea level and 34mph (55km/h) at 10,000ft (3,000m) and improved the climbing performance between sea level and full throttle height. In April 1941 two Spitfire Vas R7347 and W3119 were sent to Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio USA as sample aircraft. Supermarine Spitfire (Griffon-powered variants) - Wikipedia [28] At about the same time new VHF T/R Type 1133 radios started replacing the HF TR9 sets. [22] At the outset of World War II, the flash-hiders on the gun muzzles were removed and the practice of sealing the gun ports with fabric patches was instituted. A total of 229 Type Ds were built. It was popular with German pilots and was flown regularly until destroyed in a USAAF bombing raid on 14 August 1944. Flown as a liaison aircraft between airfields in Britain during the war, K9834 was scrapped in June 1946. The first Mk XIXs entered service in May 1944, and by the end of the war the type had virtually replaced the earlier Mk XI. These remarkable increases in performance arose chiefly from the introduction of the Rolls-Royce Griffon engine in place of the famous Merlin of earlier variants. [67] Due to all of the weight increases maximum speed performance was still lower than that of early Mk Is, but combat capability was far better. Spitfire (along with the other base characters) are the workhorses of the Fortnite outfits. The cameras, two vertically mounted F24s with 8inch (20.3cm) or 20inch (50.8cm) lens or two vertically mounted F8s with 20-inch (510mm) lens, were located in the rear fuselage. Up until the end of 1942, the RAF always used Roman numerals for mark numbers. [64], In November 1942 a Spitfire Vb EN830 NX-X of 131 Squadron made a forced landing in a turnip field at Dielament Manor, Trinity, Jersey, under German occupation at the time. 7 the barrels have the same diameter. These aircraft had been "tropicalised" using the same bulky Vokes filter and other equipment used by Spitfire Vb (trops), as well as being painted in a "desert" camouflage scheme. W3237 replaced N3297 when the latter was delivered to Rolls-Royce; W3237 went on to become a test aircraft and was still being used in September 1944. Jeffrey Quill commented that, The AFDU were quite right to criticise the handling of the Mark 21 Where they went terribly wrong was to recommend that all further development of the Spitfire family should cease. I realised at once that we should have to correct its directional characteristics and probably its longitudinal stability also, both of which in due time we achieved. The Supermarine Seafire is a naval version of the Supermarine Spitfire adapted for operation from aircraft carriers. There is also a Marksman version which can be unlocked at 300 kills with that weapon. Many variants of the Spitfire were built, from the Mk 1 to the Rolls-Royce Griffon-engined Mk 24 using several wing configurations and guns. [1] [68] They served in every combat area, operating as fighters, fighter-bombers, reconnaissance aircraft and carrier-based fighters with the Royal Navy. Created: Jan 14, 2023 04:33 AM EST lists Spitfire gliding in the sky. These Spitfires were used a few times in April and May 1943 but were withdrawn from service by August. It certainly put the cat among the pigeons and among the VIPs.[18]. The F Mk 24 achieved a maximum speed of 454mph (731km/h) and could reach an altitude of 30,000ft (9,100m) in eight minutes, putting it on a par with the most advanced piston-engined fighters of the era. Spitfire Variants - Great Britain - War Thunder - Official Forum "Spitfire: Simply Superb part three" Air International Volume 28, Number 4, April 1985. This armament later became standard for all Spitfire Mk XIVs used by 2 TAF as fighters. The wings were redesigned with a new structure and thicker-gauge light alloy skinning. The basic structure of the wing was unchanged until the C type in 1942. [52] As a result of a meeting with Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding, Air Officer Commanding RAF Fighter Command, two Spitfires N3069 and N3071 were released by RAF Fighter Command and sent to the "Heston Flight", a highly secret reconnaissance unit under the command of Acting Wing Commander Cotton. The managements of Supermarine and Vickers were eventually able to convince the Air Ministry that production would be sorted out and, in 1938, an order was placed with Morris Motors Limited for an additional 1,000 Spitfires to be built at huge new factory which was to be built at Castle Bromwich. As a consequence of the delays, the RAF received the first two Spitfires off the production line in July 1938, while the first Spitfire to enter squadron service was received by 19 Squadron in early August. This, though not ideal, produced a very marked improvement in directional characteristics and we were able to introduce minor changes thereafter and by various degrees of trimmer tab and balance tab to reach an acceptable degree of directional stability and control. However, seven months after the decision was taken to install them on all marks, Spitfires were still being delivered with the original fabric covered ailerons. it would have to be a book on say the Spitfire IX, where all pages are devoted to this variant only (see for example Matusiak's book on the Spit V in Mushroom . [46], The Mk 22 was used by only one regular RAF unit, 73 Squadron[47] based on Malta. [3] With the death of the original designer, Reginald J. Mitchell, in June 1937, all variants of the Spitfire were designed by his successor, Joseph Smith, and a team of engineers and draftsmen. The Vc initially suffered a high rate of mechanical failure in Australia, due to corrosion in engine cooling pipes that were unfilled and exposed to salt air, while being shipped from the UK.[93]. [100] The cabin was not like the fully pressurised cabin of a modern airliner; the pressure differential provided by the modified cockpit of the VI was only 2psi (140hPa; 0.14atm) (which was double the Air Ministry requirement). From 1948 onwards, Arabic numerals were used exclusively. Spitfire Mk.IXc by Brett Green (Pacific Coast Models 1/72) - HyperScale Media related to Supermarine Spitfire Mark 21 at Wikimedia Commons They were extended by eight inches, meaning that with a straighter trailing edge, the wings were not the same elliptical shape as previous Spitfires. [65], Chief among the changes was the upgraded 1,175 horsepower (876kW) Merlin XII engine. Spitfire [Marksman (300 kills)] MP-443 Grach It would take some time to develop the new fighter and an emergency stop-gap measure was needed as soon as possible: this was the Mk V.[76], The basic Mk V was a Mk I with the Merlin 45 series engine. [15] K5054 was unpainted and the undercarriage had no fairings fitted and was fixed down. As a fighter, the F Mk 24 armament consisted of 4 20mm Hispano cannon operational experience had proved that the hitting power of these larger weapons was necessary to overcome the thicker armour encountered on enemy aircraft as the war progressed. This mark could nudge 400 mph (640 km/h) in level flight and climb to an altitude of 33,000 ft (10,000 m) in under nine minutes. In comparative tests with a Mk IX it was 14mph (23km/h) faster at sea level, but above 20,000ft (6,100m) it had become slower. They were quite unqualified to make such a judgement and later events would prove them totally wrong.[42]. Unless otherwise noted, all Griffon-engined Spitfire variants used the strengthened Dunlop AH10019 "four spoke" pattern mainwheels. The squadron had little opportunity to engage the Luftwaffe before the war ended but scored a rare success on 26 April 1945, when two Spitfire Mk 21s shot up and claimed to have sunk a German midget submarine which they caught on the surface. Up until the end of 1942, the RAF always used Roman numerals for mark numbers. After the first few flights K5054 was returned to the factory, reappearing about 10 days later with an overall gloss pale blue-grey finish. The second article describes Spitfire variants powered by later Merlins, with two-stage, two-speed superchargers, while the final article describes the Spitfires powered by Rolls-Royce Griffon engines. Priority then focused on the Mark V series. This is a Spitfire from its most distinctive viewpoint. In addition, some Spitfires of one mark or variant may have been modified to another; for example, several of the first Mk Vbs were converted from Mk Ibs; the first Mk IXs were originally Mk Vcs, converted, in some instances, by Rolls-Royce at their Hucknall facility. The last of these Spitfires were taken out of service in 1952. "Spitfire Mk1 Daily Inspection Squadron 609", Supermarine Spitfire (late Merlin-powered variants), Supermarine Spitfire (Griffon-powered variants), Supermarine Spitfire (late Merlin powered variants), Allied technological cooperation during World War II, Military history of the United Kingdom during World War II, Supermarine Spitfire variants: specifications, performance and armament, Rolls-Royce Merlin#Carburettor developments, Supermarine Spitfire#Carburettor versus fuel injection, "Spitfire Excavated From Stanhope Moors. Mk Vc). Jeffrey Quill, Supermarine's chief test pilot, was the first to fly the Mk IV/Mk XII prototype DP845. Clearly further modifications would be needed. Category:Spitfire Model Outfits - Fortnite Wiki These were known as the Mk Ib: Mk Is armed with eight Brownings were retrospectively called the Mk Ia. and Ernest Hives of Rolls-Royce thought that the Griffon would be "a second power string for the Spitfire". [2] During production of the Mk VIII and Mk IX, a new undercarriage leg was introduced which had external v-shaped "scissor-links" fitted to the front of the leg; this also led to small changes in the shape of the undercarriage bay and leg fairings. A common trait among all Spitfire variants is the box-shaped intakes under the wings, these serve to cool both the Rolls Royce Merlins supercharger and oil supply. The majority of these were used by Allied squadrons in the Mediterranean theatre (including North Africa), Burma and in Australia with No. We thought we'd finally settle the debate, and rank all of his looks in one complete list. Estonia's order was cancelled when the Soviet Union annexed the country. With the full fuel load the center of gravity was so far back the aircraft was difficult to fly until the rear fuselage tank had been emptied. After a misjudged landing it tipped over on its back, fatally injuring the pilot Flt Lt. White.
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