Clarifying on the clipped Spits. The first mass use of the clipped wing spits was with the Vb as a way to increase the speed a bit and the roll rate. They were escorting the medium bombers across the channel and 18-20K and not the high alt were the airwar had gone for a while. It was a quick fix to try and keep the V in the game against the 190.
With the XII the first production Spit with the clipped wing, it was the same. It was a medium to low alt version of the Spit with a single stage Griffon. Tactics for the XII Wing was to try and draw the 190s and 109s down and then turn into them, using the superior performance of the XII to turn the tables as the Tangmere Spit XII wing did so well on 10/20/43 when they got the 190s and 109s to come down and play, claiming 9 for no loss. As with the clipped Vbs the XIIs were used often to escort the medium bombers of both the RAF and USAAF to targets in France, along with the fighter sweeps, rhubarbs rodeos etc.
The Clipped wing VIII, IX and XVI were again aimed at medium to low altitude word, including the ground attack stuff.
In general at the lower alt the airwar was being fought at from mid 43 on, the difference in turn radius was not great with the clipped Spit, while the speed increase and roll rate increase helped a great deal with the 190s.
Best bet for a clipped Spit in AH would be a 'clipped clapped and cropped' Vb or a late war ground attack XVI (in my opinion.)
Dan
