Is Spitfire really the BEST British fighter??? - Page 5 - Aircraft of World War II

02-26-2005, 05:45 PM

Spitfire Performance Testing <--- click here

=S=

Lunatic

Hot Space · 02-26-2005, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the lancaster kicks ass

and i don't think they're the stats for the Mk.XIV, and that pic's of a Mk.22/24.............

Ahh..you're wrong. The Pic is a Spit XVIII.

Hot Space

BountyHunter15 · 02-26-2005, 08:37 PM

The Spitfire had two 0.5in machine guns and two 20mm cannons. It was a great fighter. it really packed a punch.

KraziKanuK · 02-26-2005, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BountyHunter15

The Spitfire had an armament consisting of two forward firing 20mm cannons and two 50 cal. machine guns in the leading edges of the wing. It also had a bomb/rocket load of 500lb. It had a maximum speed of 448mph and and could climb up to 20,000ft in about 7 minutes.It was powered by one Rolls-Royce Griffon 65 12-cylinder Vee engine.

According to Spitfire: the History, the Mk XVIII could carry 3x 500lb GP bombs.

02-26-2005, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BountyHunter15

The Spitfire had two 0.5in machine guns and two 20mm cannons. It was a great fighter. it really packed a punch.

I'd rather have 6 x .50's. The Hispano was too prone to jamming until very late in the war, and if the 20mm on one side jammed, its mate on the other side was nearly useless in the Spitfire (unlike the .50's where the plane could be trimmed to handle it). This is one of the big reasons they decided to mount the two .50's on the later Spitfires - they didn't want to be toothless in battle.

See the attached doc below where the Hurc IIc suffers 3 of 4 gun jams.

=S=

Lunatic

trackend · 02-27-2005, 06:21 AM

Thing is statistics are useful but not everything I know the for instance the Hurricane had a higher kill figure than the Spit but the discussion is which was the best fighter not the most successful so I'm still in favor of the spit as being the best meld of man and machine this is what made it the best "like wearing a glove" as one pilot said.

the lancaster kicks ass · 02-27-2005, 02:48 PM

although service history does have an impact on people's opinions of the best..........

02-28-2005, 01:43 AM

My point is that earlier in the war the 20mm cannon of all sides, except the ShVAK, were somewhat unreliable. As the war progressed they became increasingly reliable. By the end of the war the Hispano supposedly had a 1:1500 rounds fired stoppage rate, the MG151/20 was about the same, the BMG was about 1:4000 rounds. These stoppage rates do not include guns that froze.

=S=

Lunatic

the lancaster kicks ass · 02-28-2005, 04:30 PM

a gun freezing over (although it's normally the lubricating oil that freezes i believe), is a pretty major promlem in the air though..............

cheddar cheese · 02-28-2005, 04:39 PM

Especially at altitude...

the lancaster kicks ass · 02-28-2005, 04:41 PM

dude it's a problem at any altitude..........

cheddar cheese · 02-28-2005, 04:44 PM

I know, the key word in my statement being Especially, as it is a greater problem as you get higher, because the air is colder...

the lancaster kicks ass · 02-28-2005, 04:47 PM

no i mean if you're guns freeze over it's a proplem, no matter what you're altitude is, not that gun freezing is more likely at higher altitudes, although i know it is..............

cheddar cheese · 02-28-2005, 04:52 PM

I neve said it wasnt a problem, jeez, do you have to attempt to find fault with everything I say?

02-28-2005, 08:01 PM

I only pointed out that the stoppage rate figures I've given exclude cases where the guns froze, which was considered a different issue.

=S=

Lunatic

02-27-2005, 02:48 PM	#67
the lancaster kicks ass Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 19,945	although service history does have an impact on people's opinions of the best.......... __________________ "Reminds me of the time I sank the Tirpitz" comments a Spitfire pilot, "One pass of course, old boy."

02-28-2005, 04:30 PM	#69
the lancaster kicks ass Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 19,945	a gun freezing over (although it's normally the lubricating oil that freezes i believe), is a pretty major promlem in the air though.............. __________________ "Reminds me of the time I sank the Tirpitz" comments a Spitfire pilot, "One pass of course, old boy."

02-28-2005, 04:41 PM	#71
the lancaster kicks ass Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 19,945	dude it's a problem at any altitude.......... __________________ "Reminds me of the time I sank the Tirpitz" comments a Spitfire pilot, "One pass of course, old boy."

02-28-2005, 04:47 PM	#73
the lancaster kicks ass Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 19,945	no i mean if you're guns freeze over it's a proplem, no matter what you're altitude is, not that gun freezing is more likely at higher altitudes, although i know it is.............. __________________ "Reminds me of the time I sank the Tirpitz" comments a Spitfire pilot, "One pass of course, old boy."

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

02-26-2005, 05:45 PM	#61
Anonymous Guest Posts: n/a	Spitfire Performance Testing <--- click here =S= Lunatic

02-26-2005, 08:37 PM	#63
BountyHunter15 Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Jal, New Mexico Posts: 46	The Spitfire had two 0.5in machine guns and two 20mm cannons. It was a great fighter. it really packed a punch.

02-27-2005, 06:21 AM	#66
trackend Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Canvey Island, Essex Posts: 4,029	Thing is statistics are useful but not everything I know the for instance the Hurricane had a higher kill figure than the Spit but the discussion is which was the best fighter not the most successful so I'm still in favor of the spit as being the best meld of man and machine this is what made it the best "like wearing a glove" as one pilot said.

02-28-2005, 01:43 AM	#68
Anonymous Guest Posts: n/a	My point is that earlier in the war the 20mm cannon of all sides, except the ShVAK, were somewhat unreliable. As the war progressed they became increasingly reliable. By the end of the war the Hispano supposedly had a 1:1500 rounds fired stoppage rate, the MG151/20 was about the same, the BMG was about 1:4000 rounds. These stoppage rates do not include guns that froze. =S= Lunatic

02-28-2005, 04:39 PM	#70
cheddar cheese Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: WSM, England Posts: 20,387	Especially at altitude...

02-28-2005, 04:44 PM	#72
cheddar cheese Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: WSM, England Posts: 20,387	I know, the key word in my statement being Especially, as it is a greater problem as you get higher, because the air is colder...

02-28-2005, 04:52 PM	#74
cheddar cheese Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: WSM, England Posts: 20,387	I neve said it wasnt a problem, jeez, do you have to attempt to find fault with everything I say?

02-28-2005, 08:01 PM	#75
Anonymous Guest Posts: n/a	I only pointed out that the stoppage rate figures I've given exclude cases where the guns froze, which was considered a different issue. =S= Lunatic