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[SAS~Riken]

Spitfire: The History
By Eric B. Morgan/Edward Shacklady
Key Publishing Ltd 1987
ISBN 0 946219 10 9

A 4 bladed, 6 cannon version of the spitfire.
The FM is based off the Spitfire Mk.Vb
The cockpit is of the spitfire Mk.Vb
Loadout is cannons/empty only

This aircraft is a very deadly aircraft for bombers. One 1-2 second short burst will tear apart a bomber in a flash....a muzzle flash

Download the Spitfire Mk.IV here

Credits:
GJE52 - 3D work and Default skins
Riken - Slot and Weapons
SAS~Epervier - 4.09 Testing
Birdman - LOD Fixes and DWB Testing
.50calBMG - Request
Oleg - Origional model

Air.ini:
Spitfire_MkIVp    air.SpitfireMkIVp 1                   NOINFO  gb01  SUMMER

Plane.ru:
Spitfire_MkIVp       Spitfire Mk.IV, 1942   



Background:
There wasnt alot of specs to find on this other than it was a recon version too. But that was also a short lived variant too.

Yes. this plane actually existed. But only one was built as it had many problems with the firing of the cannons and the drag from the humps on top of the wing. As it was stated earlier, the boxed humps messed with the airflow over the top of the wing, and even with the more streamlined setup, the pilot would have to fight the plane a bit to keep the wings level.

But the real problem was in the cannons. the weight in the wings and the weight of the ammo was said to be worriedsome on the wings stressing more than a normal fighter. The bigest issue was the aircraft stalled at low speed if the cannons were fired. If you start on the ground and fire the cannons, you'll notice that the plane really moves backwards. It rockes itself backwards if you have an intermintant gun mod.

All around, it was a great idea, but the plane was scrubbed because of the many problems it would have and they were needing sucessful results and not problems on fighter aircraft. This plane was the reason to why the Spitfire Mk.Vc came about. 4 cannons was the limit for this fighter.

So, yes. This variant really did exist, but it never saw action or a 3rd test flight. It was stripped of 2 cannons and improvements were made to make up the Mk.Vc.

To me, this was designed origionally as a bomber interceptor only. These planes would solely go after the bombers, while the fighters with guns (and 2 cannons) would go after the fighters. I can see the concept of this prototype, but this plane would have never lasted due to combat stress as some have stated.

As for the engine... well, I'm not exactly sure on as it was an early fighter and yes, it looks like a different engine was in there, but I cant really tell just off the exhaust manifolds in the picture. After looking up a usable in game FM, the Griffon engines were from the Mk.IXe on up. For this early model, it was not around for them to have so I'm going to keep it as is. The earliest spit Vb we have is a carburated merlin so is the Spit Mk.IIb. It would be wrong to power this up over the Mk.Vb.


Download Spitfire Mk.IVpwi    It's a what if with 6 cannons, 4 .303s or 4.50 for loadout. Read me included in download.

[HundertzehnGustav]

hold on... did you also leave the .303s in?

heard of her.
lets see what this thing can do!

... or UNDO the Heinkels

[SAS~Riken]

Nah. Left out the .303s. I did this as they might have in their day, They probally took an older model airframe (Ib) and added 2 cannons with it and took out the .303s I dont think they would have built just one out of scratch, but then again....maybe they had.

Ohhhh she'll undo a he-111 in a good aimed 2 secund burst at close range. It's the betties and other very large planes that take a bit more

[GerritJ9]

Er... since the Mk.IV was fitted with a Griffon rather than a Merlin, wouldn't she require a different FM?

[Trucmuche]

"prototype équipé du Griffon, désignation attribuée aux 229 appareils de reconnaissance extrapolés du Mk.V"

"Proto equiped with Griffon engine, this name was given to the 229 recce aircrafts directly issued from the MkV."

This is a funny aircraft, (easy to kill bombers with!) but false.
Work in 4.09 without problem.
Thanks for the job.

[BravoFxTrt]

Thanks Riken, Ill give her a spin.

[HundertzehnGustav]

But the real problem was in the cannons. the weight in the wings and the weight of the ammo was said to be worriedsome on the wings stressing more than a normal fighter.

The bigest issue was the aircraft stalled at low speed if the cannons were fired. If you start on the ground and fire the cannons, you'll notice that the plane really moves backwards. It rockes itself backwards if you have an intermintant gun mod.

That is whgat i was thinking the first time i flew it.
I looked at it from external view, and  somehow, you know, the 6cannon Opion seemed an obviously overpowered Choice for this Plane, the spitfire having been designed for .303s...
the increase of recoil would have, after a few dogfights ripped the wings off in flight.

What i find interesting, is that at that time, that spitfire could have been the heaviest armed aircraft in the world.
on a single 1300HP engine.
what else was there with 6 20mm Cannon... in the wings!
The Martin baker 3... but IIRc she flew only a few times in 42 and crashd because  of engine failure.
The Mustang had 4, the 190 4 as well...
Putting 6 of them in a sleek and tiny Spitfire wing was a bold plan indeed!
need stronger/thicker wing... heavy loaded... less manoevrable... too weak an engine... shorter Range... gear collapse due to overload...
and at that time, i do not really understand the Need for such a heavily armed Interceptor kind of plane.
afraid of a new BoB? Afraid of FWs? Hope for a quickly available 1550HP griffon? (That would have been a Hoot...!)

http://www.pewteraircraft.com/RAF/SPITFIRE%20IV/Spitfire%20IV.htm
"seeeems" there is an early Griffon Variant and retractable Wheel this interpretation of te Prototype.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarine_Spitfire_%28Griffon_powered_variants%29

Hold on... i doubt that 1700 HP would have been available or the 6Cannon Spit prototype...?

anyway
I can understand why it never caught on.
And even if i were to brand Your Guys Project as a virtual depiction of "massive real life Fail"...
You succeeded in bringing some attention to a plane that never made it. and make us think about Possibilities Why that never happened.

[HundertzehnGustav]

yea, having a merlin in there feels about right.
wonder wt else the Brits were cooking up at that time. a Spitfire Frame with a Sabre engine anyone?
 

Wouldve ripped itself off the engine holders when power is applied...

[dsawan]

looks nice, thankws for this.

[razor1uk]

.....a Spitfire Frame with a Sabre engine anyone?
 

Wouldve ripped itself off the engine holders when power is applied...

I think having 'a ton' (Imp) of engine upfront woulf have made all weaponry reduntant as it was extra weight... can use prop as a buzz/circular-saw
Maybe a Dagger mated to 2 stage RR supercharging from Merlin45...?

[SAS~Bombsaway]

Love the the "What if" version with the 50's. She makes short work of Bettys...





And DO's



Luke! Look out!


 

[Radoye]

Spitfire Mk.IV was actually an unarmed reconnaissance variant.

But an interesting what-if nevertheless.