Supermarine Spitfire Mk V

The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat single-engine, short-range, high-performance interceptor of World War II, manufactured in many variants and more significant numbers than any other British aircraft. Moreover, it was the only British fighter to remain in production throughout the war.

The Spitfire Mk V, an interim measure, used the Mk I or Mk. II airframe mated to the Merlin 45 engine, entered service in May 1941 with No. 92 Squadron, RAF. The Mk V was manufactured from 1941 until 1943, with over 6500 airframes built. Production in three sub-variants; the Mk. Va with the A-type wing, the Mk. Vb with the B-type wing and Mk Vc with the “universal” C-type wing.

Airframe construction is all-metal, mainly aluminium alloy, with a semi-monocoque fuselage. The low mounted wings and single fin tail assembly are cantilever elliptical shaped. The Vb was the first production Spitfire to use clipped wingtips. The undercarriage is a retractable tailwheel type.

The Spitfire Mk V uses a single Rolls-Royce Merlin 45 liquid-cooled V-12 piston engine driving a three-bladed propeller. The Mk V had a top speed of 597 km/h (371 mph), a service ceiling of 10,668 m (35,000 ft) and a combat range of 400 km (248 mi).

The armament consisted of eight 0.303″ Browning machine guns (Mk Va) or two 20 mm (0.79 in) Hispano II cannon and four 0.303″ Browning machine guns (Mk Vb).  The Mk Vc had eight machine guns or four cannons or two cannons and four machine guns. The Mk Vb/c could carry two 250-pound bombs or one 500-pound bomb.