The Supermarine Spitfire
Spitfires & Seafires That Entered Service
Following The MK1:
- Spitfire F II (RR Merlin XII) entered service in late 1940
- Spitfire PR III - Spitfire I converted for photographic reconnaissance, originally designated Type C
- Spitfire PR IV - Spitfire I converted for photographic reconnaissance, originally designated Type D
- Spitfire F V (RR Merlin 45, 46, 50, 55 or 56) entered service in March 1941
- Spitfire HF VI (RR Merlin 47) - high altitude fighter, extended wings, pressure cabin
- Spitfire PR VI - Spitfire I and V converted for photographic reconnaissance, originally designated Type F
- Spitfire HF VII (RR Merlin 61 or 64) - high altitude fighter, extended wings, pressure cabin
- Spitfire PR VII - Spitfire I and V converted for photographic reconnaissance, originally designated Type G
- Spitfire VIII (RR Merlin 63, 66, 70) - F, HF, LF versions, Spitfire V airframe with a RR Merlin 60 series engine and retractable tail wheel
- Spitfire IX (RR Merlin 61, 63, 66, 70) - F, HF, LF versions, Spitfire V airframe with a RR Merlin 60 series engine, entered service in June 1942
- Spitfire PR X (RR Merlin 64) - photographic reconnaissance, Spitfire F VII fuselage with PR XI wings, entered service April 1944
- Spitfire PR XI (RR Merlin 63, 70) - photographic reconnaissance version of F IX
- Spitfire F XII (RR Griffon III or IV) - first Griffon engine Spitfire to enter service June 1943
- Spitfire F II (RR Merlin XII) entered service in late 1940
- Spitfire PR III - Spitfire I converted for photographic reconnaissance, originally designated Type C
- Spitfire PR IV - Spitfire I converted for photographic reconnaissance, originally designated Type D
- Spitfire F V (RR Merlin 45, 46, 50, 55 or 56) entered service in March 1941
- Spitfire HF VI (RR Merlin 47) - high altitude fighter, extended wings, pressure cabin
- Spitfire PR VI - Spitfire I and V converted for photographic reconnaissance, originally designated Type F
- Spitfire HF VII (RR Merlin 61 or 64) - high altitude fighter, extended wings, pressure cabin
- Spitfire PR VII - Spitfire I and V converted for photographic reconnaissance, originally designated Type G
- Spitfire VIII (RR Merlin 63, 66, 70) - F, HF, LF versions, Spitfire V airframe with a RR Merlin 60 series engine and retractable tail wheel
- Spitfire IX (RR Merlin 61, 63, 66, 70) - F, HF, LF versions, Spitfire V airframe with a RR Merlin 60 series engine, entered service in June 1942
- Spitfire PR X (RR Merlin 64) - photographic reconnaissance, Spitfire F VII fuselage with PR XI wings, entered service April 1944
- Spitfire PR XI (RR Merlin 63, 70) - photographic reconnaissance version of F IX
- Spitfire F XII (RR Griffon III or IV) - first Griffon engine Spitfire to enter service June 1943
The total Spitfire production was 20,351, with Seafires adding another 2,408 with production lasting from 1936 until 1948.
Spitfires: Background Info
The Supermarine Spitfire was designed by Reginald J. Mitchell and first flew on March 5, 1936. The first Spitfires were delivered to No. 19 Squadron in August 1938, with 9 squadrons fully equipped with Spitfires by September 3, 1939. The Spitfire I (RR Merlin II or III) was the principal model in service during the Battle of Britain.
There were 4 versions of the Spitfire wing; the A wing had eight 0.303 in Browning machine-guns, the B wing mounted four Brownings with two 20mm Hispano cannon and the C was a universal wing that could mount eight machine-guns or four machine-guns with two cannon or four cannon. The E wing was introduced on the Mk. IX and mounted two 20mm Hispano cannon and two 0.50 in Browning machine-guns.