Spitfire Mk Vb/trop - Revision history

U178117757: /* Flight performance */ RB stock speed

2024-09-01T02:31:24Z

‎Flight performance: RB stock speed

U38088265: /* Description */ Updated to new standard

2023-07-23T18:41:47Z

‎Description: Updated to new standard

U38088265: /* In-game description */ Reformatted

2022-10-20T21:33:53Z

‎In-game description: Reformatted

U44629479: Edits

2022-05-29T06:16:42Z

Edits

Show changes

U97916902: /* Pros and cons */

2022-05-29T02:41:55Z

‎Pros and cons

U116940880: /* Pros and cons */

2022-02-17T20:57:25Z

‎Pros and cons

U90846855: /* Usage in battles */

2022-02-13T05:47:19Z

‎Usage in battles

U3312106: /* External links */

2021-01-24T09:50:27Z

‎External links

U13682523 at 10:59, 31 December 2020

2020-12-31T10:59:42Z

U13682523: Updated about template

2020-12-31T10:59:03Z

Updated about template

@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 |-
 ! Stock
-| 545 || 526 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 17.4 || 18.0 || 13.5 || 13.5 || rowspan="2" | 340
+| 545 || 527 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 17.4 || 18.0 || 13.5 || 13.5 || rowspan="2" | 340
 |-
 ! Upgraded
@@ Line 222: / Line 222: @@
 ;Skins
 * [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=spitfire_mk5b Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
 ;Images
-<gallery mode="packed-hover"  heights="200">
+<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="200">
 File:FighterImage Spitvbtrop 1.jpg|<small>Dogfight over Malta</small>
 </gallery>

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 == Description ==
 <!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
-The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27.
+In order to adapt the [[Spitfire Mk Vb]] for overseas operations, such as in Malta, North Africa, Burma, and Australia, the aircraft was equipped with a large air filter under the nose, as well as other modifications such as a larger oil coolant tank and desert survival gear behind the pilot's seat. The restricted airflow to the supercharger reduced the performance of the engine, but this was deemed acceptable. A desert camouflage was also applied to match its new arenas of service.
-Having picked up experience from the previous Mk Ia, IIa and IIb, most players will welcome the Spitfire Mk Vb. The Vb sports a new and more powerful Merlin-45 inline compared to the previous Merlin-XII engine giving it an extra 100 horsepower when upgraded, which provides better high altitude performance and faster top speed than the IIb. Unfortunately, the Vb still has similar problems as experienced with the early Spitfires such as a very weak airframe, weak wings, bad roll rate at high speeds and lack of combat flaps to help with dog-fighting. Experienced Spitfire Mk Vb pilots use close convergence ranges. Generally, the best convergence range for a Spitfire is 300 m, with 20 minutes of fuel. Once you arrive on the battlefield you should generally have between 12-15 minutes of fuel. The Spitfire manoeuvres best with this load of fuel. The Spitfire fights best at close-range. The basic strategy that many Spitfire pilots use is a tactic whereby they bait head-ons from enemy aircraft, before evading and turning around to put shots into the target at close range while the enemy is pulling out. When the Spitfire has the initiative in the engagement and has successfully manoeuvred onto a six-o-clock aspect, it is nearly impossible for the opponent to regain the advantage. Using clever management of the throttle and manoeuvres to gain or bleed energy, an experienced pilot can maintain the initiative in the engagement and stay on an opponent's six o'clock.
+In the game since the start of the Open Beta Test, the Spitfire Mk Vb/trop sports a new and more powerful Merlin 45 inline engine compared to the previous Merlin XII engine, giving it an extra 100 horsepower when upgraded, which provides better high altitude performance and faster top speed than the [[Spitfire Mk IIb|Mk IIb]]. Unfortunately, the Mk Vb/trop still has similar problems to the early Spitfires such as a very weak airframe, weak wings, bad roll rate at high speeds and lack of combat flaps to help with dog-fighting. The Spitfire fights best at close-range. The basic strategy that many Spitfire pilots use is a tactic whereby they bait head-ons from enemy aircraft, before evading and turning around to put shots into the target at close range while the enemy is pulling out. When the Spitfire has the initiative in the engagement and has successfully manoeuvred onto a six-o-clock aspect, it is nearly impossible for the opponent to regain the advantage. Using clever management of the throttle and manoeuvres to gain or bleed energy, an experienced pilot can maintain the initiative in the engagement and stay on an opponent's six o'clock.
 == General info ==

@@ Line 194: / Line 194: @@
 == History ==
-<!--''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''-->
+<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
-=== In-game description ===
+{{break}}
 A single-seat, single-engine all-metal monoplane fighter. After the Mk II and two more experimental variants of the Spitfire, the next major variant to see mass production was the Spitfire Mk V. Central to this new Spitfire was its engine – the 1470 HP Rolls Royce Merlin 45. This was equipped with a single stage supercharger and, coupled with a new carburettor design, allowed the Mk V to perform zero G manoeuvres without starving the fuel flow to the engine; a problem which had plagued earlier models of the Spitfire. The engine change necessitated strengthening the engine housing and installing a more effective oil radiator with a circular rather than U-shaped housing, and fitting two strengthening longerons to the upper surfaces of each wing.
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 The Mk V formed the backbone of RAF Fighter Command across several theatres of operations, and was considered by some pilots to be the definitive model of the Spitfire.
 === Notable pilots ===

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 * Extremely manoeuvrable
 * Decent ammo count for the .303 Brownings
-* Can pull negative G manoeuvres unlike its predecessors
+* Overheats less than previous spitfires
 '''Cons:'''
@@ Line 189: / Line 190: @@
 * .303s have a low damage output
 * Poor high altitude performance
-* Does not turn as well as A6M2s etc
+* While very maneuverable, cannot outturn zeroes
-* Prone to overheating easily while stock
+* Loses a lot of speed in vertical manoeuvres
 * Very fragile
 * Somewhat poor climb rate

@@ Line 193: / Line 193: @@
 * Very fragile
 * Somewhat poor climb rate
 == History ==

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 '''Performance:'''
-The Spitfire Mk Vb/trop is a well-rounded fighter that can turn excellently. When the plane has not been fully upgraded, the Spitfire Mk Vb/trop's Merlin-45 engine has less power than the Merlin-XII engine of the [[Spitfire Mk IIb]]. However, once all engine upgrades have been acquired the Merlin-45 is easily a superior engine with better cooling and power, blessing this variant of the Spitfire with better energy retention, better energy retention and better cooling than the Mk I and II Spitfires. The Spitfire Mk Vb/trop has outstanding energy retention and easily gains speed in a dive and retains it after pulling out into more level flight. In addition, it does not lose speed too quickly in a turn and thanks to outstanding acceleration from the Merlin-45, the aircraft easily accelerates after pulling a high-G turn that initially bled a large amount of speed. However, the newer, more powerful, heavier engine and airframe only has more energy retention capability due to being heavier than the Spitfire Mk IIb. This means that the aircraft cannot turn as tightly or as fast as its predecessor. The extra weight comes from the new cannons, which are slightly longer than the older Hispano Mk.Is, and the extra weight of the more powerful Merlin-45 engine.
+The Spitfire Mk Vb/trop is a well-rounded fighter that can turn excellently. When the plane has not been fully upgraded, the Spitfire Mk Vb/trop's Merlin-45 engine has less power than the Merlin-XII engine of the [[Spitfire Mk IIb]]. However, once all engine upgrades have been acquired the Merlin-45 is easily a superior engine with better cooling and power, blessing this variant of the Spitfire with better energy retention and better cooling than the Mk I and II Spitfires. The Spitfire Mk Vb/trop has outstanding energy retention and easily gains speed in a dive and retains it after pulling out into more level flight. In addition, it does not lose speed too quickly in a turn and thanks to outstanding acceleration from the Merlin-45, the aircraft easily accelerates after pulling a high-G turn that initially bled a large amount of speed. However, the newer, more powerful, heavier engine and airframe only has more energy retention capability due to being heavier than the Spitfire Mk IIb. This means that the aircraft cannot turn as tightly or as fast as its predecessor. The extra weight comes from the new cannons, which are slightly longer than the older Hispano Mk.Is, and the extra weight of the more powerful Merlin-45 engine.
 [[File:Spitfire Mk Vb-trop Kill-shot.png|left|thumb|356x356px|A Spitfire Mk Vb/trop breaking out of its attack run after a successful kill. Note the large Vokes Sand filter on the bottom of the engine, which is a distinctive feature of this plane.]]
 The Spitfire Mk Vb/trop has a quoted rate of climb of 17.8 m/s at around 255 km/h in a moderate climb, however, when factoring in 20 minutes of fuel reduces is capability and it can manage around '''22.7 m/s''' in a climb at '''251 km/h IAS''', or around '''20.6 m/s''' in a climb at '''270 km/h IAS'''. In addition, by alternating between shallow and sharp climbs, one can make the Spitfire climb much faster in the initial stages of the match. Through practising these techniques, it is possible to achieve an end result of an average of around 20-21 metres per second in a single, steady climb to 4,000 metres. The aircraft's nose was kept pointing between 15 - 20 degrees during this climb.

@@ Line 240: / Line 240: @@
 * [[wt:en/news/5371-development-spitfire-mk-v-model-update-and-new-modifications-en|[Devblog] Spitfire Mk.V: model update and new modifications]]
 {{AirManufacturer Supermarine}}
 {{Britain fighters}}

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 | usage-1 = the non-tropical version
 | link-1 = Spitfire Mk Vb
-| usage-2 = other uses
+| usage-2 = other versions
 | link-2 = Spitfire (Family)
 }}

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{About
 | about = British fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
-| usage = other versions
+| other
-| link = Spitfire (Family)
+| usage-1 = the non-tropical version
 }}
 {{Specs-Card