Spit IX and Seafire IIc

[Kev367th]

Originally posted by Angus
Would be logical to give the Seafire more performance on the deck, after all it's an aircraft carrier aircraft that needs performance down low.
BTW, Spit V's with full load would take off carriers, - and those were not as big as the US carriers.
Full load means full gas fuel and a slipper tank for 600 miles + of range.

Yup the V's that flew into Malta off the CV's used the 90gal tank.
Not strictly slipper as they couldn't be 'dropped', they were bolted on, more often known as ferry tanks. (or I might be thinking of the larger one).

The VC's that flew non stop Gibralter to Malta had an internal 29gal tank plus an external 170gal tank giving a range of over 1100 miles.
BUT they were stripped down to two MG's.

[Guppy35]

Originally posted by Kev367th
Yup the V's that flew into Malta off the CV's used the 90gal tank.
Not strictly slipper as they couldn't be 'dropped', they were bolted on, more often known as ferry tanks. (or I might be thinking of the larger one).

The VC's that flew non stop Gibralter to Malta had an internal 29gal tank plus an external 170gal tank giving a range of over 1100 miles.
BUT they were stripped down to two MG's.

90 gallon tank was  droppable and used for Spits flying bomber escort etc.  One of the Malta Spits launched off Wasp had the tank fall off.  The pilot made a landing on Wasp without a tail hook.  USN gave him a set of Navy wings for that effort

One of the Wasp Spitfire Vc Trops with 4 cannon and 90 gallon DT



A 91 Squadron Spitfire IX with a 90 gallon DT when they were escorting Lancs and Halifaxes in daylight raids, August 1944

[Angus]

Guppy, as always

And Kev:

Our Icelander Tony Jonsson flew Gibraltar-Malta-Algiers in November 1942.
It was 111 sqn and the aircraft were Spitfire Vb trop (vokes filter).
They were assembled out of the crates at Gibraltar.
The flight involved an escort of VIP's on one leg, which wasted a lot of fuel.
At least one of them made an emergency landing on the African coast, - Mac Gilmour was the name, a Scotsman I think.
My data on this is only the autobiographies of Tony Jonsson and the SQN leader, Anthony Bartley.
Was wondering if you guys have more data on that particular flight, and about the action in the med in november 1942.
I am short of books there.

[Schatzi]

Originally posted by Kev367th
No it has the same Merlin as the Vb we have.
Only difference is extra weight, double cannon rounds and tailhook.

I have been asking for some time now for the Seafire to have the more common low alt Merlin 32 instead of the 45/46. AKA Seafire L IIc.

More than twice as many Seafires had the Merlin 32 than the 46, and all early Seafire IIc's with the 46 were refitted with the Merlin 32.

Thanks for clearing me up Kev!

[Kev367th]

Originally posted by Schatzi
Thanks for clearing me up Kev!

Lol no probs.

If it wasn't for the double cannon load and folding wing, it would almost be an exact fit to the RAF Vb's that were converted to the very first Seafires.

RE: IXc - Despite what happens in other arenas (IIc subbing for the LIII), the IX is actually closer to Seafire L III (at it's best alt), around 5-10mph in it.
Whereas the IIc needs to get to 20k+ to get close to the LIII's low level performance. L III had same motor as our old Vc, Merlin 55M.