Created as a stop-gap between the early Spitfire variants and those in development, the Mk.V Spitfire became one of the most successful of the Spitfire types. Over 6500 were manufactured between 1941 and 1943. Essentially a Mk.1 airframe with an uprated engine and heavier armament, the Spitfire Mk.V would go on to serve on every front of WWII.
The Spitfire Mk Vb is a single-engine, single-seat, multi-role combat aircraft famed for its aerial exploits in World War II. The aircraft is an all-metal, low-wing, cantilever monoplane design. It features a traditional empennage, a standard undercarriage, and retractable main landing gear. It has a semi-bubble canopy for enhanced visibility.
The Mk Vb is one of many variants of the legendary Spitfire family, which is famed for participating in the entirety of World War II. The Spitfire Mk Vb performed a number of roles, notably interception, air superiority, and bomber escort. During combat, it was renowned for its speed, agility, acceleration, and resiliency.
The aircraft was armed with two 20-millimeter autocannons with 60 rounds per gun and four.303-caliber machine guns, each with 350 rounds of ammunition. It could also be fitted with rockets and a light load of bombs for ground attack roles.
The airframe measures 29 feet, 11 inches in length, stands 11 feet, 5 inches tall, and has a distinctive elliptical wing with a span of 36 feet, 10 inches.
The Spitfire Mk Vb is powered by a single liquid-cooled, supercharged, V-12 Merlin 45 engine generating 1,470 horsepower. The powerplant turns a 3-blade Rotol constant-speed propeller. It has a range of 470 miles, a ceiling of 37,500 feet above sea level, an overall climb rate of 2,600 feet per minute, and a top speed of 375 miles per hour. It can climb to 20,000 feet in 6 minutes, 24 seconds from sea level and 30,000 feet in 12 minutes, 12 seconds from sea level.
| LENGTH | 29 ft 11 in (9.12 m) |
| WINGSPAN | 36 ft 10 in (11.23 m) |
| ENGINE | RR Merlin 45 |
| MAX WEIGHT | 6525 lb (3071 kg) |
| MAX ALTITUDE | 35000 fr (10668 m) |
| RANGE | 248 mi (400 km) |
| FUEL CAPACITY | 85 Imp Gal (386 L) |
| EMPTY WEIGHT | 4963 lb (2251 kg) |
| CRUISE SPEED | 272 mph (437 kmh) |
| MAXIMUM SPEED | 371 mph (597 kmh) |
