spitfire models 101

[Flyboy]

hello,

looking at the different spit types in the game, one must ask himself what are the difference between them

to be more specific I'm talking about the mark 8, 9 and 16
looking at the charts on HTC site the 9 is the weakest of them all (i would expect that from the mark8) and the 8 and 16 are pretty much identical.

can someone lay out the differences both in game and in real life (year of introduction, engine, armament, general changes ect'..)
i know there are millions of sub types for each model but im sure you could clarify everything

thanks!

[Devil 505]

Here's the short version.
The Spitfire Mk.9 was introduced as a stop-gap because the Mk.8 development was encountering many delays. The first production Mk.9 used the fuselage of the Mk.5 mated with the newest Merlin engine, the Merlin 61. Other changes include the adoption of twin radiator/oil coolers assemblies under the wings. Prior models had a one of each, the radiator under the right wing, the oil cooler beneath the left. Also it was fitted with a 4 bladed propeller.

The Mk.9 was so successful that it became the most widely produced Spitfire. Equipment was continuously upgraded as the war went on. The AH Spit9 is the earliest model.

The Mk.8 featured many improvements over the older models. The most visible is the retractable tail wheel and the enlarged tail surfaces, especially the taller, pointy-tipped rudder. The Spit8 is the fastest of the Merlin powered spits in level flight.

The Mk.16 is very similar to performance to the Mk.8 and far superior to the early Mk.9s. In reality, they are identical to the last production models of the Mk.9, the LF model. The major differences were the use of Packard Company built Merlin 266 models in America, whereas the technically identical Rolls-Royce Merlin 66 went into Spitfire LF Mk.9s.
Also, the Mk.16 used as different radio than the LF Mk.9.

In AH, the major difference with the Mk.16 is the armament is boosted by the use of two .50cal machine guns and two 20mm cannon. The older models use four .303cal machine guns instead of the .50cals. Also the AH Mk.16 has the short "clipped" wing tips. These improve the roll rate and diving speed of the aircraft over the full length tips.

To summarize the AH spit lineup based on widespread availability in reality:
Spit1 - 1940 model
Spit5 - mid 1941 model
Spit9 - late 1942 model
Spit8 - late 1943 model
Spit16 - late 1944 model

Other:
Seafire Mk.2 - 1943
Spit14 - late 1944 high altitude model with Griffon engine.

[BaldEagl]

In-game:

Spitfire Mk I:  The best turning of the Spits.  It only comes equipped with multiple .303 machine guns and the pre-Miss Tillies Orifice carborated engine dies under negative G loading.  The construction causes wing deformation adversely affecting roll rate, particularly at speed.

Spitfire Mk V:  Underpowered compared to it's later siblings.  Cannons are limited to 120 rounds and are mated with 4x .303's.  It flies smoothly and turns well but has difficulty in vertical maneuvers due to it's limited engine power.

Seafire Mk II:  A heavier version of the Mk V (to make it sea worthy) with correspondingly poorer performance but it can be launched from an aircraft carrier.  IIRC it does carry an additional 120 cannon rounds.

Spitfire Mk IX:  IMO the most Spit like Spit.  Smooth as silk to fly it does everything well but nothing great.  240 cannon rounds plus 4x .303's.  The AH version has a high alt engine with a dead band between 16-21K that's particularly bad between 18-19.5K.  Over 21K it's among the better planes in the plane-set but performs well at lower alts.

Spitfire Mk VIII:  Performance seemingly identical to the Mk XVI, the Mk VIII suffers from sluggish roll rates particularly at speed.  It carries more fuel internally than any other model with the same gun package as the IX.

Spitfire Mk XVI:  The clipped wings remove the roll issues associated with the VIII but introduce instability at stall speeds resulting in a snap roll if pushed too far.  Removes the extra fuel tank from the VIII and adds 2x .50's to pair with the Hispanos making the MG and cannon ballistics nearly identical.  Both the VIII and XVI are tuned for low altitudes.

Spitfire Mk XIV:  Another high alt version and the fastest of all Spits.  This one doesn't fully recover boost until 23K where it's on par with the best of the AH high alt fighters (Ta-152, P-47's).  It doesn't fly or handle like a Spitfire.  It's closest match in the plane set is probably the 109K-4 in terms of handling.  2x .50 machine gun package.  It's also a gas guzzler.

[Guppy35]

The VIII is the best of the bunch over all in my opinion.  The XVI has the advantage of more hard points as it was essentially the ground attack Spit as air to air targets were diminishing and the XIV was the air to air bird by that time.

505's description is an accurate one.

The three two stage Merlin birds do cover late 42 til the end of the war well.  Consider the LFXVIe we have as an LFIXe.  Same bird in fact they came off the same production lines but the number was determined by it being a Rolls Royce Merlin 66 (IX) or Packard Merlin 266 (XVI)  There were instances where one serial number was an IX and the next an XVI just due to the engine installed.

[artik]

Hi Flyboy,

Spit 16 is the closest one to the 101 had. Actually Spit 16 is Spit IX with US build Merlin 66 and clipped wings. Spit IX in AH flies with Merlin 61 and underpowered. Best spit around there.

[Zimme83]

Has been pretty much covered. Mk VII (pressurized) and Mk VIII were supposed to replace Mk V but the appearance of FW190 created a need for a stop gap filler, Mk IX. It was so good that  Mk VII/VIII didn't had any advantages in performance and Mk IX became the standard spit on the Western front with Mk VIII sent to other theaters. Mk XVI is as stated a upgraded IX with a Merlin 266 engine and optimized for Low altitude. Mk XIV is the successor of the Mk VII and a purely hi alt fighter. (later became the spiteful when it was fitted with a new wing to solve the problem with aileron reversal that affected high speed performance of the spit)

Spitfire is prob the best prop fighter construction ever built, Mitchell did a great job in creating a plane in the mid 30.s that had that development potential. The step from a Mk I to a Spiteful is huge.