![]() ![]() The Hispano Mk IIs were belt fed from box magazines allowing for 120 rpg (the Chattellerault system). ![]() Because the Spitfire was no longer to be used as a night fighter, the retractable landing lights were no longer fitted. During production of the Mk VIII and Mk IX a new undercarriage leg was introduced which had external v-shaped "scissor-links" fitted to the front of the leg this also led to small changes in the shape of the undercarriage bay and leg fairings. Stronger undercarriage legs were raked 2 inches (5.08 cm) forward, making the Spitfire more stable on the ground and reducing the likelihood of the aircraft tipping onto its nose. ![]() The undercarriage mountings were redesigned and the undercarriage doors were bowed in cross-section allowing the legs to sit lower in the wells, eliminating the upper-wing blisters over the wheel wells and landing gear pivot points. The design of the wing was altered to reduce labour and manufacturing time and carry various armaments: A type, B type, or four 20 mm Hispano cannon. The majority of the Spitfires from the Mk VIII on, used three basic wing types C, D and EĪlso known as the "universal wing" the new design was standard on the majority of Spitfires built from mid 1942. The Griffon powered variants are described in a separate article. This article presents a history of the Spitfire powered by two-stage engine variants and also describes some of the "drawing board" projects and experimental Spitfires. This new airframe later formed the basis for the Rolls-Royce Griffon powered Spitfires. In a second stream of development Supermarine was working on an improved, reinforced, Spitfire airframe which incorporated several new features and was designed for the Merlin 60 and 70 series engines. Rolls-Royce engineers were already working on a new version of the Merlin incorporating a two-stage supercharger the combination of the improved Merlin and the Spitfire Mk Vc airframe in a "stop-gap" design allowed the RAF to combat the Fw 190 on equal terms. The debut of the formidable Focke-Wulf Fw 190 in late 1941 had caused problems for RAF fighter squadrons flying the latest Spitfire Mk Vb. The British Supermarine Spitfire was facing several challenges by mid-1942. Spitfire LF Mk IX MH434 of Duxford's Old Flying Machine Company. ![]()
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