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Britain's Supermarine Spitfire Mk VIII fighter bomber¹

Design

The Spitfire Mk VIII was nearly the same as the Mk VII but without the pressurized cabin as its primary function was to be used at lower altitudes.¹

Tropicallized

During production the Spitfire Mk VIIIs were tropicallized by having a larger carburetor intake under the nose.¹

Variants

• Spitfire F.VIII: Standard fighter bomber.¹
• Spitfire HF.VIII: High altitude fighter.¹ Some had extended wing tips.¹
• Spitfire LF.VIII: Low altitude fighter bomber.¹ Some had clipped wing tips.¹

Usage

Australia and Britain used the Spitfire Mk VIII.¹

The Spitfire Mk VIII entered service in 1943.¹ It equipped RAF squadrons in the Mediterranean theatures.¹

Australia

Starting in October 1943 Australia received the following for use in the Pacific¹:

• Spitfire LF.VIII: 243¹
• Spitfire F.VIII: 9¹
• Spitfire HF.VIII: 158¹
• Total: 410¹

	Supermarine Spitfire Mk VIII1 Supermarine Spitfire F.VIII1	Supermarine Spitfire LF.VIII1	Supermarine Spitfire HF.VIII1
Type	Fighter bomber1	Fighter bomber1	Fighter bomber1
Crew	11	11	11
Engine (Type)	Rolls-Royce Merlin 611	Rolls-Royce Merlin 661	Rolls-Royce Merlin 701
OR	Rolls-Royce Merlin 63/63a1
Cylinders
Cooling
HP	61: 1,5651 63/63a: 1,7101	1,7201	1,7101
Propeller blades	41	41	41
Dimensions
Span	36' 10"1 11.23 m1	36' 10"1 11.23 m1	36' 10"1 11.23 m1
Length	31' 3.5"1 9.54 m1	31' 3.5"1 9.54 m1	31' 3.5"1 9.54 m1
Height	12' 7.75"1 3.86 m1	12' 7.75"1 3.86 m1	12' 7.75"1 3.86 m1
Wing area
Weight
Empty			5,800 lb1 2,631 kg1
Loaded			7,767 lb1 3,523 kg1
Performance
Speed @ 21,000' / 6,400 m		404 mph1 650 kph1
Climb to 20,000' / 6,096 m		6.7 minutes1
Service ceiling		41,500'1 12,649 m1
Range with drop tanks		1,180 miles1 1,900 km1
Armament
Wings	2: 20 mm1 4: 0.303" MG1
Bombs	1,000 lb1 454 kg1

Sources:

1. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998

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