Over-Armed Malta Spitfire V's

[MIflyer]

In the book "Malta Spitfire Pilot" the author says that the Spitfire V's that flew off the carrier USS Wasp to reinforce Malta were "over-armed" with four 20MM cannon and four .303 machine guns. Needless to say, this was not one of the standard configurations available for the Spitfire Vc.

After consulting the Spitfire V Maintenance Manual, it seems that there is no reason that a Vc could not be equipped with both four 20MM cannon and four .303 machine guns. But it turns out that the outer 20MM cannon and inboard .303 gun in each wing shared the same ammunition bay. So it would have not been possible to arm both all four 20MM and all four .303 guns. The most armament possible would have been four 20MM and two .303.

It appears that two of the 20MM cannon were removed from each Spitfire and used as spares. And the Spitfire ammo bays were stuffed with all kinds of supplies before heading to Malta, as a way of aiding the island's desperate supply situation.

 

[Hornet133]

So it would have not been possible to arm both all four 20MM and all four .303 guns. The most armament possible would have been four 20MM and two .303.

That is not correct. The Vb variant only had provision for 1 x 20mm and 2 x .303 in each wing. BUT the 'Universal Wing' of the Mk.Vc had the inboard .303 gun position moved outboard one bay compared to the Vb to enable 2 cannons to be carried along with 2 .303 MGs (and the ammo for both).

The 2 cannon per wing setup was rarely actually used in combat as although the extra cannons were better in trying to knock down Luftwaffe bombers, it made the Spitfire less manouverable and thus dangerous to engage in a dogfight against the fighters.

 

[JDCAVE]

There would have been loading weight issues as well, affecting range.

Jim

 

[Greyman]

I'm not sure where the gun bay sharing information came from but I'm pretty sure it's incorrect. Here's a quick photoshop:

 

[stona]

Spitfire Vcs certainly flew to Malta with four cannon fitted. I know of one image of a four cannon Spitfire taken on Malta, presumably shortly after arrival and before the 'spare' cannons were removed.

Better known is this picture of PO Jerry Smith's following his landing back on board the USS Wasp in Spitfire Vc, BR126. He had set off for Malta, but returned to the ship following fuel problems (with his slipper tank). Smith was an RAF trained Canadian pilot and had never landed on a carrier, nor was his aircraft equipped with a tailhook or any other sort of naval equipment. Nonetheless, we can see that he made it and that his Spitfire had four cannons fitted.

There is a good read about Smith's adventure, or misadventure, here.

https://www.flightjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/No_Tailhook_Spitfire.pdf

Cheers

Steve