Why there were more Mk 9 Spits at wars end than other marks

[Black Hornet]

Read Clostermann's comment about that & always wondered why that was. This partially explains it.

There was only one Wing of three Spitfire XIV Squadrons and the rest were equipped with Spitfire IXs or Spit XVIs (Spit IXs with Rolls-Royce engines built by Packard in the U.S.A.). the poor Spits had neither the speed nor the range to force the new German fighters to fight.[79]

http://www.thefireman.biz/users/0/my...ation_2210.asp










The first Mk 21s were produced in September 1944, but tests revealed that they were not stable in flight, and they did not enter service until April 1945


The Mk 22 was a development of the Mk 21. It used the cut-down fuselage and teardrop canopy seen on most other late Spitfires, but this reintroduced the instability seen in the Mk 21. The reaction was to install a much larger tail, increasing the area of the control services by over 25%. Production began in March 1945, but the aircraft did not arrive in time to see active service in the Pacific.

http://www.historyofwar.org/articles...fire_mk21.html

[Black Hornet]

- a total of 56 of the Mk IX Squadrons around compared to a mere 6 using the Mk XIV... this situation did not change even until V-E day,

http://kurfurst.atw.hu/articles/MW_KvsXIV.htm


No 610 Squadron`s Operational Record Book`s entry on 31st March 1944 states that the conversion process was not completed until April 1944 : "The Squadron is now fully equipped with Spitfire Mark 14 aircraft."

Considering that a RAF fighter Squadron consisted of only 12 airplanes to be used on operations, with additional 8 reserves present...




Which leaves the Mk 12 as yet to be covered.


The Mk XII was strictly an interim design, did not enter mass production. Only 100 were built, equipping two squadrons – No.41 received its Mk XIIs in February 1943, and No.91 in April 1943.
http://www.historyofwar.org/articles...ire_mkXII.html

[Black Hornet]

Galland said regarding the Mk 14; The best part about the Mk 14 Spit was there were so few of them.

Part of the reason so few were encountered was because the Griffon was a thirsty motor, it had short range & many Mk 14's were deployed chasing V-1's as a result.

[Hoss]

Blimey BH!
Man
Your out of control. Slow down...we're all getting covered in av fuel here.

Hoss

[Black Hornet]

Right then, perhaps yer right, 3 posts in 2 weeks is a bit excessive.

[Hoss]

Right then, perhaps yer right, 3 posts in 2 weeks is a bit excessive.

Relax BH
Just a joke. Actually I've been following your posts. Thanks, I enjoy them.

Eric

[Black Hornet]

Well ok Hoss, here's a tad more on MK 14 Spit then, it will always be a contender for best prop kite of the war, however here's one area where it doesn't shine.

at sea-level the Spit XIV can cruise at 332mph, nothing good in that number. With WEP that can be brought up to 358mph, a big difference but still not a number that will turn heads in any way. At those speeds an La5 is going to be able to keep up, let alone mention something like a 190D9, La7, 109G10, or Typhoon. http://members.shaw.ca/soda_p/Spitfire14.htm

Late war 109s could do 375 at treetop level. Mustang 378.

P-51 enthusiasts will always mention it will go fast at Sea level, Medium altitude and High altitude. No other fighter I'm aware of will. Dora was not so fast at high altitude,( decent it was, better than Anton 190), Tempest was a low altitude fighter. 47 maybe.


P.S. I'm not by & large a Pony fan, just mentioning the reality as regards speeds. It weighed too much & couldn't hope to climb with a Mk 14 or a G-10, but for speed at all 3 altitudes, it was the s--t.