World War Photos

Spitfire IIA P7895 72 Squadron 1941

Spitfire Mk IIa Specification:

• Type No.: 329
• First Flight: 24th September 1939
• Entered Service: August 1940
• Total production: 751 units

Physical Dimensions:

• Span: 36 ft 10 in (11.23 m)
• Length: 29 ft 11 in (9.12 m)
• Height: 11 ft 5.5 in (3.48 m) [Tip of Prop, Tail Down]

Engine:

• Primary Engine: Rolls-Royce Merlin XII
  • Power Output: 1,175 hp (876 kW), 1,050 hp at 13,000 ft
• Alternative Engine: Rolls-Royce Merlin 45
  • Power Output: 1,210 hp (902 kW)

Weights:

• Tare (Empty): 4,783 lb (2,174 kg)
• Take-off (Loaded): 6,275 lb (2,852 kg)

Performance:

• Maximum Speed: 357 mph (575 km/h) at 17,000 ft (5,180 m)
• Service Ceiling: 37,200 ft (11,322 m)
• Rate of Climb: 2,995 ft/min (913 m/min)
• Time to 20,000 ft: 7 minutes
• Range:
  • 500 miles (805 km) maximum
  • 395 miles (636 km) combat

Fuel Capacity:

• Fuel: 100 Octane
• Upper Fuselage Tank: 48 Imp Gal (218 liters)
• Lower Fuselage Tank: 37 Imp Gal (168 liters)

Armament:

• Eight 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns with 300 rounds per gun
• Gunsight: GM.2 Reflector

Cockpit:

• Unpressurized, with or without external bulletproof glass

Propellers:

• Types of Propellers:
  1. Rotol Three-blade Constant-speed, Variable-pitch, Magnesium Alloy (Type RX5/1)
  2. Rotol Three-blade Constant-speed, Variable-pitch, Jablo (Type RX5/3)
  3. Rotol Three-blade Constant-speed, Variable-pitch, Jablo (Type RX5/14)
  4. Rotol Three-blade Constant-speed, Variable-pitch, Jablo (Type RS5/24)
  5. de Havilland, Three-blade Constant-speed, Variable-pitch, Bracket Type 5/29A
  • Propellers (4) and (5) were only installed on Merlin 45-powered machines
  • All Rotol propellers were 10 ft 3 in (3.12 m) in diameter, while the de Havilland Type 5/29A was 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) in diameter.

Radio Equipment:

• TR.9D or TR.1133, plus R.3002 (IFF)