Spitfire F Mk XIVc

Description

The Spitfire F Mk XIVc was the product of installing a Rolls-Royce Griffon 60 engine into the fuselage of the existing Spitfire Mk VIII, which was an experimental series of about 100 Griffon-powered Spitfires. The fuselage was lengthened to 9.95 m and new wing fuel tanks had to be installed due to higher fuel consumption of the Griffon engine compared to the previous Merlin. The Mk XIVc also received a new five-blade Rotol propeller and a "C"-type wing with two 20 mm Hispano cannons and four 7.7 mm Browning machine guns. The Mk XIVs were primarily used as a V-1 flying bomb hunters due to their high speed while utilizing 150 octane fuel.

The Spitfire F Mk XIVc was introduced in Update 1.41. Featuring much greater engine power due to its Griffon engine, the Mk XIVc is faster than the previous Merlin-powered variants, at the cost of decreased manoeuvrability. However, the Spitfire is still able to out-turn most of its opponents while retaining the great climb rate and speed.

General info

Flight performance

While it does have the older wing and body type of pre-Griffon Spitfires, this aircraft takes the best of both worlds and becomes a monster at its rank. Utilizing the powerful Griffon engine, this plane has amazing acceleration and climb rate, even better than the Merlin variants. This aircraft does not compromise on manoeuvrability as it can still turn on a dime. Beware of the brittle wing construction as taking hard G turns at 600 km/h and beyond can break its wings.

Details

Survivability and armour

• 42.8 mm Bulletproof glass in front of the pilot.
• 12.7 mm Steel plate between fuel tanks.
• 4 mm Steel plate on pilot's seat. Behind pilot is another 6-7 mm steel plate.
• 3 mm Steel plates around ammunition.
• Critical components located at the front of aircraft (fuel, pilot, engine, controls)
• More fuel tanks located in wings near the fuselage

Modifications and economy

Armaments

Offensive armament

The Spitfire F Mk XIVc is armed with:

• 2 x 20 mm Hispano Mk.II cannons, wing-mounted (120 rpg = 240 total)
• 4 x 7.7 mm Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (350 rpg = 1,400 total)

Suspended armament

The Spitfire F Mk XIVc can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 1 x 500 lb G.P. Mk.IV bomb (500 lb total)

Usage in battles

The Spitfire F Mk.XIVc is the pinnacle of dogfighting at mid to high altitude. Primarily a fighter, this plane excels at catching unsuspecting pilots still climbing to altitude and amazing at the spitfire trademark of dogfighting.

Tactics

This aircraft has an ideal operating altitude of between 4,000 and 6,000 m due to the properties of the Griffon engine, but this aircraft has no problems climbing past that altitude, though manoeuvrability is slightly compromised at altitudes higher than 7,000 m. This aircraft excels at energy dogfighting, a mix between energy fighting and dogfighting. The insanely good acceleration coupled with the great climb rate and energy retention allows this aircraft to excel in horizontal dogfighting as well as vertical energy manoeuvres. Don't get into extended energy fights as many pure energy fighters can outdo this aircraft in pure energy fights.

Specific enemies worth noting

American aircraft can really outdo this plane in speed and energy retention, but cannot dogfight this plane very well. German planes are even more dangerous due to their high top speed and energy retention. This plane can adequately fight Japanese aircraft, but Zeroes can turn faster than you can, though they don't accelerate in a straight line as fast. If you stay up above 4,000 m, you can deal with most Soviet aircraft effectively.

Counter-tactics

Booming and zooming and pure energy fights are this plane's weaknesses, it does not hold up well in drawn-out fights of speed.

Manual Engine Control

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Famed Hispano Mk.IIs provide excellent damage in tandem with the Air targets belt
• 7.7 mm Tracer belt can help with aiming, as the Brownings and the Hispanos have a similar muzzle velocity
• Great turning ability
• Effective climb rate
• Smaller repair costs than normal tree variant
• Excellent acceleration
• Extremely powerful Rolls-Royce Griffon engine provides solid medium-to-high altitude performance
• Above-average roll rate at medium speeds
• Can equip a single 500 lb bomb for ground attack
• Has relatively no trouble when being up-tiered
• Effective earner of Silver Lions and Research Points

Cons:

• Its characteristics are not as refined as the normal tree variant.
• As with all Spitfires, it has an airframe that is very vulnerable to battle damage
• 7.7 mm Brownings have low stopping power and are woefully inadequate at this rank
• Controls stiffen up at high speeds
• Carrying the 500 lb bomb is a waste of the plane's dogfighting potential

History

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Spitfire F Mk XIVc from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

See also

Related development

• Spitfire (Family)

External links

• Official data sheet - more details about the performance