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Britain's Supermarine Spitfire fighter^1,2,3,4

Supermarine Spitfire fighter:

Supermarine Spitfire fighter:

Supermarine Spitfire fighter:

Supermarine Spitfire fighter:

Design

The Supermarine Spitfire was designed by Reginald Mitchell / R. J. Mitchell³.^1,3 The Spitfire was based on the seaplanes that won the Schneider Trophys.³

Cockpit

The cockpit on the Spitfire had a teardrop hood allowing for good views in the early models.¹ Later models had bubble canopies.¹

The pilot was protected by a sheet of armor.¹

Engine

The designers of the Spitfire claimed that the ejector exhaust stubs increased it's speed by 3 mph / 5 kph.¹

Wing

One of the Spitfire's strengths was it's wing as it had low drag and excellent strength.¹

Spitfires that were designed for low level attacks had clipped wings to allow for better agility.¹

Undercarriage

The undercarriage was narrow and retracted outwards.¹ This did not provide a stable platform when landing.¹

Tail Wheel

In the prototype there was a tail skid, but in the production version a tail wheel replaced it.¹

Prototype

The Spitfire prototype first flew on March 5, 1936.^1,2,3 It had a Merlin engine and a two bladed propellar.¹ An order for 310 was placed in June 1936.⁴

The Spitfire Mk III prototype first flew in March 1940.⁴ An initial order for 1,000 was placed, but this was cancelled when the simpler Spitfire Mk V came along.⁴

Production

Construction of a Spitfire took three times longer to construct than the German Messerschmitt Bf 109.¹

• Prototype: 1⁴
• Spitfire Mk I: 1,567⁴
• Produced by: Supermarine (1,517)⁴, Westland (50)⁴
• Spitfire Mk II: 921⁴
  • Spitfire Mk IIA: 751⁴
  • Spitfire Mk IIB: 170⁴
  • Produced by: Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory (CBAF) in Birmingham⁴
• Spitfire Mk IV/XX: 1⁴
• Spitfire PR.IV: 229⁴
• Spitfire Mk V: 6,472⁴, 6,479²
  • Spitfire Mk VA: 94⁴
  • Spitfire Mk VB: 3,911⁴
  • Spitfire Mk VC: 2,467⁴
  • Produced by: Supermarine (1,348)⁴, CBAF (4,489)⁴, Westland (635)⁴
• Spitfire Mk VI: 100⁴
• Spitfire Mk VII: 140⁴
• Spitfire Mk VIII: 1,658⁴
  • Spitfire LF.VIII: 1,225⁴
• Spitfire Mk IX: 5,665⁴
  • Spitfire LF.IX: 4,010⁴
  • Spitfire F.IX: 1,255⁴
  • Spitfire HF.IX: 400⁴
  • Produced by: Supermarine (561)⁴, CBAF (5,140)⁴
• Spitfire PR.X: 16⁴
• Spitfire PR.XI: 471⁴
• Spitfire F.XII: 100⁴
• Spitfire Mk XIV: 957⁴
  • Spitfire F.XIV, F.XIVE: 527⁴
  • Spitfire RF.XIVE: 430⁴
• Spitfire PR.XIX: 225⁴
• Spitfire Mk XVI: 1,054⁴
  • Produced by: CBAF⁴
• Spitfire F.XVII and Spitfire FR.XVIII: 100⁴
• Total Spitfires: 20,351^3,4
• Total Seafires: 2,334³, 2,408⁴
  • Seafires Mk I: 166 conversions⁴
  • Seafires Mk II: 402⁴
    • Produced by: Supermarine (262)⁴, Westland (140)⁴
  • Seafires Mk III: 1,220⁴
    • Produced by: Westland (870)⁴, Cunliffe-Owen (350)⁴

A total 22,890 Spitfires and Seafires were produced from 1936 to 1947.¹ 20,017 of them were powered by Merlin engines.¹

Variants

• Spitfire Mk I: Had eight 7.7 mm Browning MGs in the wings.^1,3 Used a Merlin II engine.^2,3 Entered service in August 1938.^2,3
• Spitfire Mk IA: Introduced in May 1938.¹ Ceased production in 1941.¹
• Spitfire Mk II: Had Merlin XII engine.^2,3 Entered service in September 1940.^2,3
• Spitfire Mk IIB: Had two 20 mm and four MGs.^2,3
• Spitfire Mk III: Had Rolls-Royce Merlin XX, with two speed supercharger (1,480 HP).⁴ Structure was modified.⁴ Undercarriage was made stronger.⁴ Wings were clipped.⁴ Tail wheel was retractable.⁴
• Spitfire Mk IV: Photo reconnaissance.^2,3
• Spitfire Mk V: Had Merlin 45 engine (1,440 HP).^2,3 Entered service in March 1941.³
• Spitfire Mk VB: Main fighter used from the middle of 1941 to the middle of 1942.^2,3
• Spitfire Mk VC: Fighter bomber.^2,3 Could carry one 500 lb / 227 kg or two 250 lb / 113 kg bombs.^2,3
• Spitfire Mk VI: High altitude fighter.^2,3 Longer wingtips.²
• Spitfire Mk VII: High altitude fighter.^2,3 Longer wingtips.²
• Spitfire Mk VIII: Tropicalised for use in the Mediterranean and Far East.^2,3
• Spitfire Mk IX: Had Merlin 61 two stage, two speed supercharger engine (1,660 HP).^2,3 Entered service in mid-1942.³
• Spitfire Mk X: Photo reconnaissance.^2,3 Unarmed.³ Pressurised.⁴
• Spitfire Mk XI: Photo reconnaissance.^2,3 Unarmed.³ Not pressurized.⁴
• Spitfire Mk XII: Had Griffon IV engine (1,735 HP).^2,3 First used in 1943.^2,3 Was to counter the Focke-Wulf Fw 190.³
• Spitfire PR.XIII: Armed photo reconnaissance.⁴
• Spitfire Mk XIV: Had Griffon 65 engine (2,050 HP).^2,3
• Spitfire Mk XVI: A Mk IX with a Packard Merlin 266 engine.⁴ Had speed of 405 mph / 652 kph.^2,3
• Spitfire Mk XVIII: Fighter reconnaissance.^2,3 Had speed of 442 mph / 712 kph.^2,3 Did not see service in World War II.⁴
• Spitfire PR.XIX: Photo reconnaissance.⁴ Griffon powered.⁴
• Spitfire F.21: New wing.⁴ Did not see service in World War II.⁴
• Spitfire Mk 22: Produced post World War II.⁴
• Spitfire Mk 24: Produced post World War II.⁴
• Seafire: Carrier based model.¹ Based on the Spitfire Mk V.¹

Usage

Rhubarbs

Spitfires were sent on patrols in France to attack targets of opportunity and these were called Rhubarb missions.¹

United States

The United States Army Air Force used more than 600 Spitfires during World War II.¹

Sources:

1. Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
2. Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
3. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, General Editor Chris Bishop, 1998
4. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998

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