SPITFIRE XIV QUESTIONS AND OR COMMENTS

[alpini13]

i dont know alot about spits,i am not a spit14 pilot and have rarely flown it. i did come across data on the web that seems to be different than what is in the game,i am all for having historical accuracy in the game on all rides whenever possible. please let me know if this is correct.
  was there three different drop tanks for the spti 14, in 30gal,45gal,90gal available and were they used in combat?
  besides the 2 x 20mm and 2 .50cal gun package,did they have the 2x20mm and 4 x.303 gun package in combat?
  did the later production version have an extra internal 33gal tank?
  how many had the cut down rear fusalage with bubble canopy and did they see combat?
   what boost was finaly used in combat ?, some squadrons set boost at 21+ but 25+ was approved
  this aircraft seems to be close in climb, speed, and turn to the bf109 K-4,  why is it perked?

[RTHolmes]

I'm sure guppy will be along to provide definitive answers but AFAIK:

1. yes and yes
2. I dont believe so
3. yes they did
4. later builds did, they more than likely would have seen combat
5. +25 was on 150 fuel, which is not modelled in AH for any aircraft
6. eny/perks are generally lower on all lw aircraft, I imagine to entice people out of the allied rides. not many believe the XIV should be perked though, performance is great but range and most importantly stability are not good. its a bouncy-nosed beast

[Noir]

 why is it perked?

Only HT knows  It's a constant debate in here.

[MK-84]

Because it will decimate all...if we put fifteen grand in it or more, if we have to, overnight parts from Japan....
 

[icepac]

Not really sure why it is perked other than it's high speeds but I rarely fly it and instead use the spit 16 to do what is normally the 14s mission.

Since search is broken, does anybody have the in game fuel amounts of the spit variants?

I've been wondering why the later models seem to fly much further than the earlier ones.

[Karnak]

I've been wondering why the later models seem to fly much further than the earlier ones.

Speed, mostly.  The Mk VIII and Mk XIV have more fuel, but the Mk XIV's Griffon guzzles it.

[MiloMorai]

25lb boost was not approved til post war.

[Karnak]

All Spitfires, I think all American and British aircraft in AH, have 100 octane fuel.

On 100 octane fuel the Spitfires VIII, XIV and XVI all operate at +18lbs boost. Wartime Spitfire Mk XIVs that got 150 octane operated at +21lbs boost.  Wartime Spitfire LF.Mk IXs and Mk XVIs that got 150 octane operated at +25lbs boost.  Merlin 61 Spitfire F.Mk IXs operated at +15lbs boost on 100 octane.  Spitfire Mk Is, and I think Mk Vs, operated at +12lbs boost on 100 octane.  Pre-Battle of Britain Spitfire and Hurricane Mk Is were on 87 octane and operated at +9lbs boost.

IIRC, Merlin 25 Mosquito VIs that got 150 octane fuel operated at +23lbs boost, compared to +18lbs boost for 100 octane and also could not use flame dampers.

I do not know off hand what the Napier Sabres in the Typhoon and Tempest operated at, but I know they had lower boost settings. Very complex engines that had a lot of teething problems.

[Guppy35]

i dont know alot about spits,i am not a spit14 pilot and have rarely flown it. i did come across data on the web that seems to be different than what is in the game,i am all for having historical accuracy in the game on all rides whenever possible. please let me know if this is correct.
  was there three different drop tanks for the spti 14, in 30gal,45gal,90gal available and were they used in combat?
  besides the 2 x 20mm and 2 .50cal gun package,did they have the 2x20mm and 4 x.303 gun package in combat?
  did the later production version have an extra internal 33gal tank?
  how many had the cut down rear fusalage with bubble canopy and did they see combat?
   what boost was finaly used in combat ?, some squadrons set boost at 21+ but 25+ was approved
  this aircraft seems to be close in climb, speed, and turn to the bf109 K-4,  why is it perked?

The initial production Spitfire XIV had the same armament as other Spits at the time, using the "Universal Wing" that had the 2 20mm and 4 303.  In July 44 the E Wing was introduced and as with all production Spits at the time it now was standardized with 2 20mm and 2 50 Cal MGs.  The XIV could carry the 30, 45 and 90 gallon DTs.  I don't believe it ever carried 90 gallon DTs on Ops as the XIVs were sent to the continent and were closer to the front lines and range was less of an issue.  It was standard to carry a 30 gallon slipper tank.  I have photos of Griffon Spit XII's carrying 90 gallon DTs in August 44 but they were still based in England and carried them when escorting RAF daylight raids during that time.

The XIV with the cut down rear fuselage got into the game very late, like the Spit XVI so you are talking March or April 45.

As for the fuselage fuel tank, I'd love to see photos of it installed on a combat bird.  I've not come across any during wartime.  Even the end of the war PTO XIVs don't seem to have them

[MiloMorai]

I do not know off hand what the Napier Sabres in the Typhoon and Tempest operated at, but I know they had lower boost settings. Very complex engines that had a lot of teething problems.

Started with 9lb boost then went to 11lb boost. When V1 hunting got 150 fuel and 13lb boost. Tempests did about 415mph @ 500ft (according to W/C Beaumont).

[bozon]

I've been wondering why the later models seem to fly much further than the earlier ones.

The ignorant will pick the model with the highest number assuming it is the latest and meanest. The spit 8 for example is a later model than the 9 and about the same time as the 16. Most of the performance difference from the 16 is due to the significantly larger amount of internal fuel it carries. The ignorant will see the 9,14,16 above it in the list and will never even try it. If he tries it after getting used to the 16 and not knowing about the extra fuel load it will feel heavy, though if drained to the same load as the 16, it will have almost identical climb acceleration and speed.

The spit 14 will be flown by the ignorant after the 16 - both lower number and perk cost. Then, right from the opposite torque on takeoff to the first maneuver it pull, the 14 will feel terrible vs. the 16. It will be parked never to be used again. It takes some skill to control this beast and utilize the crazy energy buildup ability. It is an experts plane and except the looks and name, it is nothing like a spit.

[Guppy35]

The ignorant will pick the model with the highest number assuming it is the latest and meanest. The spit 8 for example is a later model than the 9 and about the same time as the 16. Most of the performance difference from the 16 is due to the significantly larger amount of internal fuel it carries. The ignorant will see the 9,14,16 above it in the list and will never even try it. If he tries it after getting used to the 16 and not knowing about the extra fuel load it will feel heavy, though if drained to the same load as the 16, it will have almost identical climb acceleration and speed.

The spit 14 will be flown by the ignorant after the 16 - both lower number and perk cost. Then, right from the opposite torque on takeoff to the first maneuver it pull, the 14 will feel terrible vs. the 16. It will be parked never to be used again. It takes some skill to control this beast and utilize the crazy energy buildup ability. It is an experts plane and except the looks and name, it is nothing like a spit.

That about covers it

The 8 is actually the most refined and overall best of the Merlin Spits with the added internal fuel in the leading edge, retractable tail wheel, short span ailerons and larger span rudder.  It also came off the line with the tropical filter.  All these refinements outside of the shorter span aileron and added wing leading edge fuel were added to the IX and XVI as the war went on.  The IX came first in 42, the VIII in 43 and the XVI in mid-44 when the supplies of American built Packard Merlins were available.  The XIV did arrive before the XVI in early 44.

[icepac]

The ignorant will pick the model with the highest number assuming it is the latest and meanest. The spit 8 for example is a later model than the 9 and about the same time as the 16. Most of the performance difference from the 16 is due to the significantly larger amount of internal fuel it carries. The ignorant will see the 9,14,16 above it in the list and will never even try it. If he tries it after getting used to the 16 and not knowing about the extra fuel load it will feel heavy, though if drained to the same load as the 16, it will have almost identical climb acceleration and speed.

The spit 14 will be flown by the ignorant after the 16 - both lower number and perk cost. Then, right from the opposite torque on takeoff to the first maneuver it pull, the 14 will feel terrible vs. the 16. It will be parked never to be used again. It takes some skill to control this beast and utilize the crazy energy buildup ability. It is an experts plane and except the looks and name, it is nothing like a spit.

So this "extra fuel load"...................how about listing it now that it's been mentioned?

I'm having trouble getting internal fuel figures that agree with each other.

[RTHolmes]

check them with the E6B ...

[icepac]

Not there.