Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb

The Spitfire Mk. V was a compromise between performance, flexibility of use and firepower. They began to arrive at front line units in March 1941. Two types of wing were adopted, a standard one (known as the F wing) and a clipped version (the low flying or LF wing) that had better performance at lower altitudes and improved the Spitfires sluggish roll rate.

The Mk. Vb's armament was four Browing .303 machine guns used to sight its additional two 20mm cannons. The Merlin 45 series of two-stage single-speed engines was adopted generating 1,440 hp. The Spitfire Mk. Vb with it strengthened fuselage was so powered and followed the Mark II into production and service.

Spitfire squadrons immediately began to re-equip with Mk. V's as they became available. Initially seen as a 'stop-gap' to produce a Spitfire with the improved performance above 25,000 feet necessary to counter the Bf-109, pending the availability of the Spitfire Mk VI, the Mk V was subsequently produced in greater numbers than any other version. The first Mk V's were converted Mk I's and II's, the first flying on 20 February 1941. By the end of the month, No 92 Squadron was receiving the first Mk Vb's.

The Mk V was the equal of the Bf-109F, which had hit development snags and did not become fully operational until May 1941, by which time production of the Spitfire Mk V was well underway. With the German invasion of Russia in June, the threat of a renewed air offensive against Britain disappeared and with it the need for the Spitfire Mk VI. So, the 'stop-gap' Mk V remained in full production.

By 1942 European operations no longer took precedence over those in the Middle and Far East theatres. The first overseas deployment of Spitfires as fighters took place on 7 March, when 15 tropicalised Mk Vb's carrying 90-gallon slipper fuel tanks took off from the flight deck of HMS Eagle bound for Malta, 600 miles (960 km) away. Subsequent deliveries in the same manner turned the air battle for Malta in the RAF's favour. One aircraft suffered fuel-feed failure and became the first Spitfire without a hook to land on an aircraft carrier. By August, the Spitfire had entirely taken over the air defence of Malta.

The first Desert Air Force squadron to receive Spitfires was No 145 in April 1942. These were tropicalised Mk Vb's. One was stripped of armour and two 0.5-inch machine guns replaced the normal armament. Fitted with a four-bladed propeller and with its Merlin suitably 'tweaked' to give more power at high altitude, this aircraft climbed to 42,000 feet to shoot down a Ju-86P reconnaissance aircraft. Subsequently, Ju-86Ps were intercepted and brought down from heights of 45,000 and 50,000 feet.

The Seafire was first in action during the Allied invasion of Morocco and Algeria when a Mk Ib of No 801 Squadron from HMS Furious shot down a Dewoitine 520 on 8 November. American Spitfire Mk Vb's were also used during these landings.

Of the Mk.V series, 3,923 Mk.Vb's were produced.

GB Planes and Specifications