BoB after: how would you like to see Spitfire further developed?

[tomo pauk]

Again, you are in charge, this time in Supermarine during the Summer of 1940, and the task is to develop Spitfire further. What would be the main areas of interest/change/improvement? You may choose the 'mild' changes (models to enter services in 1941) and more radical (for 1942 on).
If you think that Spitfire was developed further historically as it would be ideally, I acknowledge that in advance

 

[Shortround6]

Swipe a few hundred Merlin XXs from the bomber boys for starters.

 

[Juha]

And several hundred more from Hurricane II production + a longer range version with fuel system a la Mk VII´and VIII

 

[herman1rg]

Give the undercarriage a wide track

 

[pbfoot]

Switch Production to the P51

 

[krieghund]

Switch Production to the P51

Oh Oh, In coming!!!

 

[davebender]

The Spitfire airframe was somewhat expensive to produce. I would strive to lower production costs and replace wing mounted machineguns with Hs.404 cannon. Naturally it would get improved Merlin engines as they become available.

Any other changes are likely to increase production costs, which is the opposite of our objective. Lightweight fighters such as the Me-109 and Spitfire will remain in service to bulk out aircraft numbers. They are not a substitute for newer, larger aircraft models such as the Fw-190 and Mustang.

I agree with the suggestion that Britain acquire large numbers of Merlin engine powered Mustangs for long range missions. But airframe production should remain in North America where aluminum was in plentiful supply. Merlin engines for these Mustangs can be manufactured either in Britain or in Detroit.

 

[tomo pauk]

Swipe a few hundred Merlin XXs from the bomber boys for starters.

And several hundred more from Hurricane II production + a longer range version with fuel system a la Mk VII´and VIII

Agree about the Merlin XX; with boosts level in use from 1941 and further, maybe the Fw-190 would not be such a threat?
The increased fuel oil tankage would increase the usability of the plane, more so for all theaters, not only for Asia/Pacific MTO.

Give the undercarriage a wide track

Good call, the Seafire would benefited also from that.

 

[Shortround6]

As far as the BoB, that was a done deal. While MK IIs started to be delivered by Castle Bromwich during the battle the vast majority of the fighters used had been manufactured before the battle started.

Changing over to the metal covered ailerons sooner would have been nice and going for the MK III with a normal wing as already mentioned would have cut the need for the hi and low MK V models. One plane being able to cover both heights.

 

[Readie]

Switch Production to the P51

You are a card Neil...
I love Canadian humour
John

 

[pbfoot]

after the BOB the Spitfire production should be cut back (produce just enough for an intercepter version to protect UK) to allow for production space for an aircraft that is able to carry the fight to the LW.

 

[Readie]

Improvements to the perfect interceptor fighter?

More power / rate of climb
More firepower. Maybe .50 MG or 20mm cannons
Move that fuel tank that burnt so many pilots
A greater range
Higher ceiling

Most of these came as a natural progression as WW2 progressed.

JOhn

 

[Readie]

after the BOB the Spitfire production should be cut back (produce just enough for an intercepter version to protect UK) to allow for production space for an aircraft that is able to carry the fight to the LW.

We did that with the Lancaster.

John

 

[johnbr]

+1 on the undercarriage wide track + more fuel RR Crecy with 2 stage at 18 lb's boost.

 

[Elmas]

Give the undercarriage a wide track

Not an easy task, structurally.

 

[tomo pauk]

The main near time improvement could've been the installation of Merlin XX.
The long term change might include the development of the new wing, that would feature a wide track gear, tailored for 4 cannons per plane. Some fuel tanks in wings, too. In case the wing is of laminar type, the speed on two-stage Merlin should be akin to P-51s, with better climb. The teardrop canopy would've improved the visibility, as it did in other fighters of the era. The Griffon installation should proceed as historically.

 

[wuzak]

Forget the laminar flow wing....

The two main things they needed to do with the Spitfire was add tankage (which was shown to be possible) and do some detail work with the radiator installation (to minimise drag).

Other areas to work on are using 4 x 20mm or 2 x 20mm + 2 x 0.50s, strengthening the win so that external tanks could be carried.

Also, dump Mk IX production in favour of VIII and XIV as soon as possible.

 

[Shortround6]

Sounds like you are talking about a Merlin powered Spiteful

 

[tomo pauk]

Kinda; the wing area would not be reduced, though. I'd like to see the leading wing radiators, too, akin to that Tempest prototype.

Hi, wuzak,
Why should we forget laminar flow wing in this case?

 

[Shortround6]

The "laminar" flow didn't really do a lot for drag on it's own. What it did do was allow more interior volume for the same drag. Most WW II laminar flow wings only held the low drag airflow another 5-10% of the airfoil over a normal wing. In other words don't expect much of a change in performance over a normal Spitfire but you could wind up with more volume in the wings for fuel tanks.