Supermarine Spitfire Mk VIII
Supermarine Spitfire VIII: Similar to Mk VII but without pressurised cockpit. Armament as Mk VC, structural and systems improvements as Mk VII, enlarged rudder (except first few aircraft) and compact Aero-Vee tropical filter as standard. Prototype development included Mk III (N3297) fitted with Merlin 61 early-1942. Production (Supermarine Type 360) totalled 1,658 by Supermarine in three designated sub-variants according to altitude rating of engine: Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk VIII with 1,705 hp Merlin 66; Supermarine Spitfire F Mk VIII with 1,565 hp Merlin 61 or 1,710 hp Merlin 63; and Supermarine Spitfire HF Mk VIII with 1,655 hp Merlin 70. Most Supermarine Spitfire VIIIs flew with standard-span wing, but extended or clipped tips used as required operationally without change of designation. Service introduction, mid-1943, principally in North Africa, Sicily and Italy, including some SAAF squadrons. Later, Supermarine Spitfire VIIIs replaced Mk VCs in squadrons operating in the CBI theatre and equipped units of the Indian Air Force. In 1944, RAAF took on charge 251 LF Mk VIIIs for its squadrons in New Guinea; 159 more Mk VIIIs were received post-war. In fighter-bomber role, some Mk VIIIs carried two 500-lb (227-kg) bombs under fuselage; later aircraft used 45-Imp gal (205-1) teardrop long-range tanks in place of earlier slipper type. The Spitfire Mk. VIII was basically a non-pressurized version of the Mk. VII. The Mk.VIII featured a stronger fuselage than earlier Spitfires and a retractable tail wheel. Ironically, the Mk. VIII entered service after the Mk. IX, which was built as a "stopgap" fighter following the long teething period experienced by the Mk. VIII. First ordered in July 1942, Supermarine built nearly 1,658 Mk. VIIls by the end of 1945.
In the war with Japanland-based
Spitfires gave their main service on the Burma front supporting the British
Fourteenth Army, and in the south-west Pacific operating as part of General
MacArthur's forces. Spitfires of the Australian Air
Force were in action from early 1942 onwards - primarily in defensive
operations against Japanese air raids, and most notably in the defence of
the northern Australian port of Darwin. In 1942-3 the majority of the
Spitfires in front-line service in the Far East were Mk Vs. Later in the
war these were largely replaced by the superb Mk VIII, generally
acknowledged to be the best production Spitfire variant as regards its
handling qualities when airborne.
SPECIFICATION AND
PRODUCTION INFORMATION ENGINE: Rolls-Royce
Merlin 66 developing 1,720 h.p. |
Acknowledgments
The Spitfire VIII profile drawing is reproduced, with thanks,from
'British Fighters of World War Two" by
Bill Gunston (Hamlyn/Aerospace)
Main source for the text and the Mk III
Seafire data/specification was
'Brtish Warplanes of World War II' by
Daniel J. March (Grange Books 2000)
The Spitfire Mk VC profile and Mk VII
drawings are reproduced with thanks from the same work
The photograph of the LF VIIIC Spitfire
MT719 is reproduced with thanks from
'Spitfire - Flying Legend' by J. Dibbs
and T. Holmes (Osprey Aviation 1996)