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Depending on the supercharger fitted, engines were rated as low altitude (e.g.; Merlin 66, Griffon III), where the engine produced its maximum power below about 10,000 feet (3,000 m), medium altitude (Merlin 45), where the engine produced its maximum power up to about 20,000 feet (6,100 m), and high altitude (Merlin 70), where the engine produced its maximum power above about 25,000 feet ...
The early Spitfire variants powered by the Rolls-Royce Griffon were adaptations of Mk Vc (early Mk XII) or Mark VIII (late Mk XII and Mk XIV) airframes. The later Griffon-engined Spitfire variants embodied new wings, tail units and undercarriages and were very different from any of the earlier Spitfire marks.
Supermarine Spitfire variants powered by early model Rolls-Royce Merlin engines mostly utilised single-speed, single-stage superchargers. The British Supermarine Spitfire was the only Allied fighter aircraft of the Second World War to fight in front line service from the beginnings of the conflict, in September 1939, through to the end in ...
The other wing-tip variation, used by several Spitfire variants, was the "clipped" wing; the standard wing tips were replaced by wooden fairings which reduced the span by 3 ft 6 in (1.07 m). [84] The wing tips used spruce formers for most of the internal structure with a light alloy skin attached using brass screws. [85]
The fighter's maximum range was just a little over 460 miles (740 km) on internal fuel, since the new Griffon engine consumed much more fuel per hour than the original Merlin engine of earlier variants. By late 1944, Spitfire XIVs were fitted with an extra 33 gal in a rear fuselage fuel tank, extending the fighter's range to about 850 miles ...
Spitfire 944; Supermarine Speed Spitfire; Supermarine Spitfire (early Merlin-powered variants) Supermarine Spitfire (Griffon-powered variants) Supermarine Spitfire (late Merlin-powered variants) Supermarine Spitfire operational history; Supermarine Spitfire prototype K5054; Supermarine Spitfire variants: specifications, performance and armament
On 24 February 1943, the first of the Rolls-Royce Griffon engined Spitfire variants, the F Mk XII was accepted into RAF service, with the first examples being delivered to 41 Squadron. The first operational flight was made on 3 April, with the Mk XII's first victory, a Junkers Ju 88 occurring two weeks later. [ 77 ]
Supermarine Spitfire; Supermarine Spitfire (early Merlin-powered variants) Supermarine Spitfire (late Merlin-powered variants) Supermarine Spitfire (Griffon-powered variants) Supermarine Seafire; Supermarine Spitfire prototype K5054; Supermarine Aircraft Spitfire