| Supermarine Spitfire |
| Nationality |
British |
| Aircraft Type |
Fighter |
| First Flight |
5 March 1936 |
| Entered Service |
14 May 1938 |
| Crew |
1 |
| Notes |
This design resulted in the Air Ministry drawing up Specification F.37/34 around the design and ordering it into production. Nearly 23.000 of all marks were built. This aircraft was built in more numbers and more versions than any other Allied aircraft outside the Soviet Union. |
| Specification |
| Powerplant |
One 1.030 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin III piston engine |
| Performance |
| Speed |
594 km/h at 5.945 m |
| Range |
1.827 km |
| Service Ceiling |
11.125 m |
| Dimensions |
| Wingspan |
11,23 m |
| Wing Area |
22,48 m² |
| Length |
9,12 m |
| Height |
3,02 m |
| Weights |
| Empty Weight |
2.267 kg |
| Maximum Take Off Weight |
2.911 kg |
|
Weaponry
|
| Guns |
Eight wing mounted 0,303 in machine guns with 350 rounds per gun |
| Bombs etc |
None |
|
Versions
|
| Prototype |
Initial production model |
| Mk IA |
Modified Mk I; ASH radar |
| Mk IB |
F.Mk I conversion to F.R. Mk I standard; ASH radar |
| Mk I (P.R.) |
Night-fighter version; F.R. Mk I conversions; Exhaust shrouds |
| Mk IIA |
Night-fighter version; Lengethened nose. A I. Mk 10 radar |
| Mk IIB |
Modified Mk IIA; Two 20 mm Hispanio cannon and four 0,303 in Brownings |
| Mk IIC |
Air-Sea-Rescue; fifty Mk II conversions; later redesignated A.S.R.II; eight 0,303 in Browning machines guns |
| Mk III |
Several experimental conversions; 1.390 hp Merlin XX also Merlin 60 and 61 |
| Mk V Series |
1.470 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 45M, 50M or 55M engine; Clipped wings, top speed 756 km/h and a range of 756 km; Armament was two 20 mm Hispanio cannon, four 0,303 in Browning guns; some modified to carry max bomb load of 500 lb |
| Mk IV |
7.135 hp Rolls-Royce Griffon IIB (experimental prototype version only) later modified to prototypes Mk XII and Mk XX |
| P.R. Mk IV |
Unarmed photo-reconnaissance Mk V (Type D) version; some tropicalised |
| Mk VA: FVA |
Medium altitude version; Mk II development eight 0,303 Browning machine guns and a Merlin 45 engine |
| Mk VA: LFVA |
Low altitude version; Mk II development eight 0,303 Browning machine guns and a Merlin 45 engine |
| Mk VB: FVB |
Medium altitude version: Two Hispanio cannon and four Brownings |
| Mk VB: LFVB |
Low altitude version: Two Hispanio cannon and four Brownings |
| Mk VC: FVC |
Medium altitude version: Universal wing allowing for either A or B type armament or four 20 mm Hispanio cannon |
| Mk VC: LFVC |
Low altitude version: Universal wing allowing for either A or B type armament or four 20 mm Hispanio cannon |
| Mk VC: HFVC |
High altitude version: Universal wing allowing for either A or B type armament or four 20 mm Hispanio cannon |
| P.R.Mk V |
Photo-reconnaissance (Type C) version; Later redesignated P.R.Mk IV; some converted to Types E and F |
| H.F.Mk VI |
As H.F.Mk V with pressurised cabin; Merlin 47 and extended wing |
| Mk VII |
F.VII and H.F.VII; redesignated Mk VI with Merlin 61, 64, 71 or 75 |
| P.R.Mk VII |
Photo-reconnaissance Mk V service conversions; eight 0,303 in Brownings |
| Mk VIII |
F.VIII, L.F.VIII and H.F.VIII; modified Mk VII; unpressurised; all tropicalised |
| Mk VIII Trainer |
Post-war 2-seat trainer; armament optional; Mk VIII conversions |
| F.Mk IX |
1.565 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 61 or 1.650 hp Merlin 63 engine; 655 km/h speed and a 1.576 km range. Two 20 mm Hispanio cannon and four 0,303 in Browning guns, some modified to carry maximum bomb load of 1.000 lb |
| Mk IX, F.IX, L.F.IX and H.F.IX |
Medium, Low and high altitude version respectively; Modified Mk V with strengthened engine mounting for Merlin 61 series |
| Mk IXE, F.IXE, L.F.IXE and H.F.IXE |
Versions as above; but with E type wing with two 20mm cannon and two 0,5 in Browning machine guns |
| Mk IX Trainer |
Post-war 2-seat trainer; Armament optional, MK IX conversions |
| P.R.Mk IX |
Unarmed photo-reconnaissance; Service modification of Mk IX |
| P.R.Mk X |
Unarmed photo-reconnaissance; Pressurised cabin; Merlin 77 |
| P.R.Mk XI |
Unarmed photo-reconnaissance; Modified Mk IX; Some tropicalised |
| F. Mk XIV |
2.035 hp Rols-Royce Griffon 65 or 66; 721 km/h speed; Two 20 mm Hispanio Mk II cannon and two 0.5 in Browning machine guns with 500 lb bomb or Mk IX rockets |
| Mk XII |
Rolls-Royce Griffon III or VI; clipped wing, faired engine cowling |
| P.R. MK XIII |
Photo-reconnaissance; eighteen Mk V conversion; Merlin 32; four 0,303 in Browning machine guns |
| F.Mk XIV/XIVE |
Modified Mk VIII; universal or E type wing; lengthened nose' increased fin and rudder area; some with all-round vision canopy |
| F.R. MK XIV/XIVE |
Fighetr reconnaissance; Modified F.Mk XIV; all with cut-down rear fuselage and all-round vision canopy |
| L.F.Mk XVI |
Low-altitude fighter; 1.580 hp (Packard built) Merlin 266-engined MK IX |
| F./F.R.Mk XVIII |
Fighter and fighter-reconnaissance; developments of Mk XIV, tropicalised |
| P.R.M XIX |
Unarmed photo-reconnaissance; Modified Mk XIV, most with pressurised cabin and tropicalised |
| F.21/22/24 |
Post-war fighter variants |
| Seafire |
See seperate entry; Seafire |
