RCMF - Developement History of the Spitfire, Part 1, The Spitfire Mk V

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May 26, 2013, 06:53:02 AM

23 Apr 2006 - Developement History of the Spitfire, Part 1, The Spitfire Mk V

Written by Tiger April 23, 2006, 22:10:00 PM 1192 Views Rating: 0 (0 Rates) Print

The Spitfire MkV...

In parallel with Supermarine, Rolls-Royce were further developing the Merlin engine and in 1941 the Merlin 45 was available. It still retained a single stage supercharger but provided more power and ran higher manifold pressure. This produced the Mk V Spitfire which was available in three basic versions, Va, Vb and Vc, the principle difference being in their armament. The Va retained the eight .303 machine guns of the Mk1, the Vb with two Hispano-Suiza cannon and four .303 machine gun. The Vc had a more advanced wing which was not only stronger but also made possible the installation of four 20 mm cannon or two 20mm canon and four machine guns. This was know as the 'universal wing' , was a major step forward, and paved the way to the Mk IX Spitfire.
The Mk V was produced in very large numbers and became the workhorse for RAF Fighter Command during 1941 and 1942

HSSDMkVpic

Designation:	Mk Va
Type No.:	331
Type:	Single seat fighter
First Flight:
Into Service:
Span:	36ft 10 ins (11.23m)
Length	29ft 11ins ( 9.12 m )
Height:	11ft 5.5ins (tip of prop. Tail up )
Engine:	Single speed, single stage 1440 hp ( 1074Kw ) Merlin 45, 1190 hp Merlin46, 1230hp Merlin 50 or 1210 hp Merlin 50A.
Weight:	( empty ) 4998lbs. ( 2267 Kg ): max take off weight 6417lbs (2911Kg).
Max Speed:	369 MPH (594 Km/h) @ 19500ft (5945m).
Time to 20k ft:
Service Ceiling:	36500ft
Rate Of Climb:
Range:	1135 miles ( 1827 Km )
Fuel Capacity:	48 imp galls (upper, fuselage) 37 imp gals (lower, fuselage). Auxillary tanks of 30, 90 or 170 imp gals could also be carried.
Armament:	Eight 0.303 ins. (7.7mm) Browning machine guns
Cockpit:	Un-pressurized (with internal bullet proof glass)
Propeller:	(I) Rotol 3 blade constant speed, variable pitch, Dural 10ft 9ins dia (II) De-Havilland 3 blade constant speed, variable pitch, Hydromatic (III) De-Havilland 3 blade constant speed, variable pitch
Gunsight:	GM2 Reflector
Radio Equipment:
Production:	94
Tail Wheel:	Fixed

HSSDMkVcanopypic

Designation:	LF Mk Va
Type No.:	331
Type:	Single seat low level fighter
First Flight:	29th December 1940 ( X4942)
Into Service:
Span:	32ft 6 ins (9.91m)
Length	29ft 11ins ( 9.12 m )
Height:	11ft 5.5ins (tip of prop. Tail up 3.48m)
Engine:	Single speed, single stage 1470 hp ( 1096Kw ) Merlin 45M, 1470 hp (1096kw) Merlin 50M or 1580hp Merelin 55MA.
Weight:	( empty ) 4981lbs. ( 2259 Kg ): max loaded 6700lbs (3039Kg).
Max Speed:	357 MPH (574 Km/h) @ 6000ft (1830m).
Time to 20k ft:
Service Ceiling:	36500ft
Rate Of Climb:
Range:	470 miles ( 1827 Km )
Fuel Capacity:	48 imp galls (upper, fuselage) 37 imp gals (lower, fuselage). Auxillary tanks of 30, 90 or 170 imp gals could also be carried. 29 Imp gals tank could be installed in the rear fuselage only in conjuction with the 170 imp gals auxillary tank
Armament:	Eight 0.303 ins. (7.7mm) Browning machine guns with 350 rpg
Cockpit:	Un-pressurized (with internal bullet proof glass)
Propeller:	(I) Rotol 3 blade constant speed, variable pitch, Dural type RX5/10 10ft 9ins dia (II) De-Havilland 3 blade constant speed, variable pitch, Hydromatic type 5/39 (III) De-Havilland 3 blade constant speed, variable pitch
Gunsight:	GM2 Reflector
Radio Equipment:
Production:	See MkVa
Tail Wheel:	Fixed

HDSSmkVBpic

Designation:	Mk Vb (inc Vb Trop)
Type No.:	331 (352)
Type:	Single seat fighter
First Flight:
Into Service:
Span:	36ft 10 ins (11.23m)
Length	29ft 11ins ( 9.12 m )
Height:	11ft 5.5ins (tip of prop. Tail up 3.48m)
Engine:	Single speed, single stage 1440 hp ( 1074Kw ) Merlin 45, 1190 hp Merlin46, 1230hp Merelin 50 or 1210 hp Merlin 50A.
Weight:	( empty ) 5065bs. ( 2297 Kg ): max loaded 6700lbs (3039Kg).
Max Speed:	371 MPH (597 Km/h) @ 20000ft (6095m).
Time to 20k ft:
Service Ceiling:	37000ft
Rate Of Climb:
Range:	470 miles
Fuel Capacity:	48 imp galls (upper, fuselage) 37 imp gals (lower, fuselage). Auxillary tanks of 30, 90 or 170 imp gals could also be carried. 29 Imp gals tank could be installed in the rear fuselage only in conjuction with the 170 imp gals auxillary tank
Armament:	Two 20mm Hispano Mk1 or Mk2 cannon 60 rpg and four 0.303 ins. (7.7mm) Browning machine guns 350 rpg
Cockpit:	Un-pressurized (with internal bullet proof glass)
Propeller:	(I) Rotol 3 blade constant speed, variable pitch, Dural type RX5/10 10ft 9ins dia (II) De-Havilland 3 blade constant speed, variable pitch, Hydromatic type 5/39 (III) De-Havilland 3 blade constant speed, variable pitch
Gunsight:	GM2 Reflector
Radio Equipment:
Production:	3911
Tail Wheel:	Fixed

wingpic

Designation:	LF Mk Vb (inc LFVb Trop)
Type No.:	331 (352)
Type:	Single seat low level fighter.
First Flight:
Into Service:
Span:	32ft 2 ins
Length	29ft 11ins ( 9.12 m )
Height:	11ft 5.5ins (tip of prop. Tail up 3.48m)
Engine:	Single speed, single stage 1470 hp ( 1096Kw ) Merlin 45M, 1470 hp (1096) Merlin50M or 1580hp Merlin 55MA
Weight:
Max Speed:	357 MPH (574 Km/h) @ 6000ft (1530m).
Time to 20k ft:
Service Ceiling:	36500ft
Rate Of Climb:
Range:	470 miles
Fuel Capacity:	48 imp galls (upper, fuselage) 37 imp gals (lower, fuselage). Auxillary tanks of 30, 90 or 170 imp gals could also be carried. 29 Imp gals tank could be installed in the rear fuselage only in conjuction with the 170 imp gals auxillary tank
Armament:	Two 20mm Hispano Mk1 or Mk2 cannon 60 rpg and four 0.303 ins. (7.7mm) Browning machine guns 350 rpg
Cockpit:	Un-pressurized (with internal bullet proof glass)
Propeller:	(I) Rotol 3 blade constant speed, variable pitch, Dural type RX5/10 10ft 9ins dia (II) De-Havilland 3 blade constant speed, variable pitch, Hydromatic type 5/39 (III) De-Havilland 3 blade constant speed, variable pitch
Gunsight:	GM2 Reflector
Radio Equipment:	(Trop) TR9D, TR1133 or TR1143 and R5002
Production:	3911
Tail Wheel:	Fixed

wingpic%7E0

Designation:	Mk Vc (inc Vc Trop)
Type No.:	349
Type:	Single seat fighter.
First Flight:
Into Service:
Span:	36ft 10 ins (11.23m)
Length	29ft 11ins ( 9.12 m )
Height:	11ft 5.5ins (tip of prop. Tail up 3.48m)
Engine:	Single speed, single stage 1440 hp ( 1074Kw ) Merlin 45, 1190 hp Merlin46, 1230hp Merlin 50 or 1210 hp Merlin 50A.
Weight:	( empty ) 5081bs. ( 2305 Kg ): max loaded 7420lbs (3346Kg).
Max Speed:	371 MPH (597 Km/h) @ 20000ft (6095m).
Time to 20k ft:
Service Ceiling:	37000ft
Rate Of Climb:
Range:	470 miles
Fuel Capacity:	48 imp galls (upper, fuselage) 37 imp gals (lower, fuselage). Auxillary tanks of 30, 90 or 170 imp gals could also be carried. 29 Imp gals tank could be installed in the rear fuselage only in conjuction with the 170 imp gals auxillary tank
Armament:	'Universal wing' (I) eight 0.303 ins(7.7mm) Browning machine guns (II)Two 20mm Hispano Mk1 or Mk2 cannon 120 rpg and four 0.303 ins (7.7mm) Browning machine guns (III) Four 20mm Hispano Mk1 or Mk2 cannon 120 rpg and 250lb (113 Kg) or 500lb (227 Kg) Bombs
Cockpit:	Un-pressurized (with internal bullet proof glass)
Propeller:	(I) Rotol 3 blade constant speed, variable pitch, Dural type RX5/10 10ft 9ins dia (II) De-Havilland 3 blade constant speed, variable pitch, Hydromatic type 5/39 (III) De-Havilland 3 blade constant speed, variable pitch
Gunsight:	GM2 Reflector
Radio Equipment:	(Trop) TR9D, TR1133 or TR1143 and R5002
Production:	2467
Tail Wheel:	Fixed
Notes:	This version had strengthened main undercarriage. All tropical versions had an additional cockpit ventilator on the port side of the instrument coaming.

HDSSmkVassydrg

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