World War Photos

Spitfire LF Mk VB of No 322 Squadron at Hawkinge February 1944

Spitfire LF Mk Vb Specification, including LF Mk Vb Trop Variant

• Type No.: 331 (352 for Trop)
• Type: Single-seat Low-level Fighter

Physical Dimensions:

• Span: 32 ft 2 in (9.80 m)
• Length: 29 ft 11 in (9.12 m)
• Height: 11 ft 5½ in (3.48 m) [Tip of Propeller, Tail Up]

Engine Options:

• Primary Engines:
  • 1,470 hp (1,096 kW) Rolls-Royce Merlin 45M
  • 1,470 hp (1,096 kW) Merlin 50M
  • 1,580 hp Merlin 55MA

Performance:

• Maximum Speed: 357 mph (574 km/h) at 6,000 ft (1,530 m)
• Service Ceiling: 36,500 ft (11,109 m)
• Range: 470 miles (756 km)

Fuel:

• Fuel Type: 100 Octane
• Fuel Capacity:
  • Main Fuselage Tanks:
    • Upper: 48 Imp Gal (218 liters)
    • Lower: 37 Imp Gal (168 liters)
  • Auxiliary Tanks:
    • 30 Imp Gal (136 liters), 90 Imp Gal (409 liters), or 170 Imp Gal (773 liters)
  • Optional rear fuselage tank: 29 Imp Gal (132 liters), only in conjunction with the 170 Imp Gal auxiliary tank

Armament:

• Primary: Two 20 mm Hispano Mk I or Mk II cannon (60 rounds per gun) and four 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns (350 rounds per gun)

Cockpit:

• Unpressurized, with internal bulletproof glass

Tailwheel:

• Fixed

Propeller Options:

1. Rotol: Three-blade, Variable-pitch, Constant-speed, Dural, Type RX 5/10, 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) diameter
2. de Havilland: Three-blade, Variable-pitch, Constant-speed, Hydromatic Type 5/39
3. de Havilland: Three-blade, Variable-pitch, Constant-speed, Bracket type

Radio Equipment:

• Tropical Variant: TR.9D, TR.1133, or TR.1143, with R5002

Gunsight:

• GM.2 Reflector