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Britain's Supermarine Spitfire Mk XIV fighter bomber¹

Design

The Spitfire next had the Rolls-Royce Griffon 65 engine installed.¹ Along with this engine a 5 bladed propeller was used.¹ As a result the nose was longer and the rudder and fin had to be redesigned to compensate for the engine.¹

Prototype

Six Spitfire Mk VIII were converted to prototypes of the Spitfire Mk XIV.¹ The first one flew in early 1943.¹

Production

Deliveries of the Spitfire Mk XIV started in January 1944.¹

Variants

• Spitfire F.XIV: Had 'C' wing.¹ Used normal canopy.¹
• Spitfire F.XIVE: Had 'E' wing.¹ Some wings were clipped for low altitude work.¹ Bubble canopy.¹
• Spitfire FR.XIVE: Low level fighter and reconnaissance.¹ Clipped wings.¹ Bubble canopy.¹ Oblique camera in the rear of the fuselage.¹ An additional fuel tank was added to the fuselage.¹

Usage

Australia, Britain, Canada, and New Zealand used the Spitfire Mk XIV.¹ Around 20 RAF and Commonwealth squadrons used the Mk XIV.¹

Success Against Jets

In October 1944 the Spitfire Mk XIVs were able to shoot down Messerschmitt Me 262s.¹

Against the V-1

The Spitfire Mk XIVs were successful in shooting down over 300 V-1 flying bombs.¹

	Supermarine Spitfire Mk XIV1 Supermarine Spitfire F.XIV1
Type	Fighter bomber1
Crew	11
Engine (Type)	Rolls-Royce Griffon 651
Cylinders	V 121
Cooling
HP	2,0501
Propeller blades	51
Dimensions
Span	36' 10"1 11.23 m1
Length	32' 8"1 9.96 m1
Height	12' 8"1 3.86 m1
Wing area
Weight
Empty	6,600 lb1 2,994 kg1
Loaded	8,500 lb1 3,856 kg1
Maximum overload	9,772 lb1 4,433 kg1
Performance
Speed at sea level	375 mph1 603 kph1
Speed @ 26,000' / 7,925 m	448 mph1 721 kph1
Cruising speed	245 mph1 394 kph1
Climb	4,580'/minute1 1,396 m/minute1
Climb to 20,000' / 6,096 m	7 minutes1
Service ceiling	44,500'1 13,563 m1
Range	460 miles1 740 km1
Range with drop tanks	850 miles1 1,368 km1
Armament
Wings	2: 20 mm1 4: 0.303" MG1

Sources:

1. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998

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