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A Spitfire on display at the USAF Museum.
(photo courtesy of the USAF Museum) |
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A Spitfire in flight.
(photo courtesy of the US DoD) |
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The Supermarine Spitfire remains one of the most celebrated aircraft designs in history, gaining fame against insurmountable odds first in the fabled Battle of Britain campaign and later in the whole of the World War 2 air war. The system would account for over 20,000 of it's type being produced spanning the war years and form the backbone of British air command in the duration. Long regarded as one of the best fighter designs of all time (achieving the top spot on MilitaryFactory.com's list), the Spitfire continues to be held in high regard even outside the confines of the British Isles.
What makes the Spitfire such a recommended aircraft if that it became the perfect combination of power, firepower, speed and maneuverability, especially important qualities when squaring off against the German Focke-Wulf Fw 190's and Messerschmitt Bf 109's. The system attained a great level of regard from aircrews and ground crews alike due to the aforementioned qualities and the ability for the aircraft to operate from barely treated runaways and the capability to keep on flying despite damage incurred to the airframe. Once the system started to be fielded with varying types of armament and even more powerful engines, the Spitfire legacy was enshrined for generations. Add to that the exploits of "the few" against "the many" encountered in the Battle of Britain - a battle that, in all respects, Britain should have lost at, least on paper - and the Spitfire legacy stands the test of time.
Design of the Spitfire stemmed form the mind of designer Reginald J. ("RJ") Mitchell whose Supermarine firm had already amassed an impressive portfolio of award-winning seaplanes. With work on the model starting as early as 1935, the initial Spitfire prototype was airborne on March 5, 1936 and was shortly-thereafter awarded production by the British Air Ministry as the first Spitfire Mk I mark - with service beginning in August of 1938. The type would be delivered in limited quantity for the impending Battle of Britain confrontation in the summer of 1940, of which some 370 examples were available to some 19 air groups. The Spitfire Mk I would solidify its place in history in that summer though the system was already undergoing various minor and major improvements to make it a very different aircraft from the one that debuted those years ago.
Unlike its counterpart in the Hawker Hurricane, the Spitfire featured a sleek overall appearance. Wings and tail surfaces were rounded and the entire design was smooth from nose to end. With the addition of the tear drop bubble canopy, the Spitfire gained a sporty-like design look which no doubt assisted in adding to the high performance specifications of all the models. Wings were of a low-monoplane assembly variety and fixed just forward and under the cockpit. Though armament varied somewhat considerably from variant to variant, the base early systems showcased an impressive array of 8 x 7.7mm machine guns with four per wing. Later systems implemented a highly devastating fixture of 2 x 20mm cannons along with a remaining 4 x 7.7mm machine guns found in earlier models. The added provision for external ordnance of up to 500lbs of bombs only added to the impressive arsenal and made the dedicated fighter a valuable fighter-bomber tool.
Throughout its life, the Spitfire was constantly being served with Rolls-Royce engines that covered either the Merlin or the Griffon series types. Additional changes to wingtips, propeller and various subsystems would produce a dizzying array of fighter types that would span the gamut of escorts, fighters, fighter-bombers, reconnaissance, photographic reconnaissance, high-altitude interceptor and tropicalized models. The Spitfire became an official part of British operations as both an offensive and defensive weapon in little time.
One of the more notable mark entries in the Spitfire legacy was the Spitfire Mk XIV - a high altitude performer. This particular model series could achieve a top speed of 450 miles per hour and was more than capable of intercepting incoming German V-1 rockets headed for England. The type was also credited with the first Allied downing of a German jet in the war in the form of the Messerschmitt Me 262. 957 total Mk XIV Spitfires were produced, playing an ever-expanding role as the war progressed.
In the end, the Spitfire went on to be used by a large amount of export customers that included Australia, Belgium, Burma, Canada, China, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, France, Greece, Hong King, India, Ireland, Israel, Malaya, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Rhodesia, South Africa, Soviet Union, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, Turkey, the United States of America and Yugoslavia and including the United Kingdom. Design of the Spitfire also spawned a naval version known as the Seafire which operated most notably with the British Fleet Air Arm.
Specifications for the Supermarine Spitfire:
Photo courtesy of the USAF Museum
Designation: Supermarine Spitfire
Model: Supermarine Spitfire Mk VB
Manufacturer: Supermarine
Powerplant: 1 x Rolls-Royce Merlin 45/46/50 V-12 piston engine generating 1,440 horsepower
Length: 29 feet, 11 inches
Wing Span: 36 feet, 10 inches
Height: 11 feet, 5 inches
Weight: 5,100lbs (empty); 6,785lbs (Maximum Take-Off Weight)
Maximum Speed: 374 mph
Maximum Range: 470 miles
Armament: 2 x 20mm cannons; 4 x 7.7mm machine guns in wings
Crew: 1
Total Production: 22,685 (20,351 Spitfires; 2,334 Seafires)
Base Spitfire Models:
Spitfire Mk I - Fitted with Merlin engine and 8 x 7.7mm machine guns; entering service in August of 1938; model version part of the Battle of Britain defense.
Spitfire Mk II - Fitted with Merlin XII engine; appearing in September of 1940
Spitfire Mk IIB - Armed with 2 x 20mm cannons and 4 x 7.7mm machine guns
Spitfire Mk IV - Photographic Reconnaissance Model
Spitfire Mk V - Fitted with Merlin 45 powerplant of 1,440 horsepower output; Appearing in March 1941; first mass-produced model.
Spitfire Mk VC - Fighter-Bomber Version; ability to carry 2 x 250lb OR 1 x 500lb drop bomb(s)
Spitfire Mk VB - Appearing throughout 1941 and 1942
Spitfire Mk IX - Fitted with Merlin 61 engine featuring a two-stage supercharger for improved performance (1,665hp); 409mph top speed with 25,420ft ceiling; four-bladed propeller.
Spitfire Mk VI - High-Altitude Variant
Spitfire Mk VII - High-Altitude Variant
Spitfire Mk VIII - Tropicalized Variant in both dedicated fighter and fighter-bomber forms
Spitfire Mk X - Photographic Reconnaissance Variant; sans armament
Spitfire Mk XI - Photographic Reconnaissance Variant; sans armament
Spitfire Mk XVI - Improved performance model appearing in both dedicated fighter and fighter-bomber forms; top speed bumped up to 405 miles per hour.
Spitfire Mk XII - Fitted with Griffon IV engine of 1,735 horsepower output; designed specifically to combat the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 series of German fighter.
Spitfire Mk XIV - Fitted with Griffon 65 2,050 horsepower output powerplant (445mph top speed) and appearing in both fighter and fighter-bomber forms; five-bladed propeller ; holds distinction of being the first British fighter to destroy a Luftwaffe Me 262 jet fighter.
Spitfire Mk XVIII - Fighter/Reconnaissance Variant; featured top speed of 442 miles per hour
Seafire - Spitfire Naval Variant serving with the British Fleet Air Arm (FAA)
Seafire Mk IB - FAA variant fitted with Merlin powerplant
Seafire Mk IIC - FAA variant fitted with Merlin powerplant
Seafire Mk III - FAA variant fitted with Merlin powerplant
Seafire Mk XV - FAA variant fitted with Griffon powerplant
Seafire Mk XVII - FAA variant fitted with Griffon powerplant
Seafire Mk 45 - FAA variant fitted with Griffon powerplant
Seafire Mk 46 - FAA variant fitted with Griffon powerplant
Seafire Mk 47 - FAA variant fitted with Griffon powerplant
More Pictures of the Supermarine Spitfire Fighter
Note five-bladed propeller.
(photo courtesy of the Alaskan FAA) |
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Close-up of nose. Note four-bladed propeller in this model. (photo courtesy of the Alaskan FAA) |
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A distinctive looking twin-seat Spitfire.
(photo courtesy of the Alaskan FAA) |
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A pair of Spitfires in flight formation.
(photo courtesy of afhra.maxwell.af.mil from the personal collection of Captain Joseph J. Merhar, Jr.) |
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A Spitfire on display at the USAF Museum.
(photo courtesy of Dan Alex) |
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A Spitfire on display at the USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio, USA.
(photo courtesy of Dan Alex) |
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A four-bladed propeller Spitfire on display at the USAF Museum. (photo courtesy of Dan Alex) |
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View showing the Spitfire cockpit and entry door.
(photo courtesy of the Alaskan FAA) |
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