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This page is about the British fighter Spitfire Mk IIa. For other versions, see Spitfire (Family).

Spitfire Mk IIa

Spitfire Mk IIa

Description

In 1939, a trial was undertaken in which a Spitfire Mk I was fitted with a new 1,175-hp Merlin XII engine, the success of which resulted in the designation of a new variant: the Spitfire Mk II. Other improvements included a new, more efficient cooling system, and a move away from the previous external electric engine starting systems. The Mk IIa variant in particular was fitted with the "A-type" wing, allowing an armament of 8 Browning .303 machine guns, much like the preceding Mk Ia. Spitfire Mk IIs were rapidly manufactured and delivered, replacing all Mk Is in active service by April 1941.

Introduced in Update 1.35, the Spitfire Mk IIa is an improvement over its predecessor, with an even greater ability to gain the altitude advantage over opposing fighters and dictate the terms of the ensuing dogfight. The Spitfire Mk IIa's main strength continues to be its ability to turn-fight opponents, while its good top speed allows it to pursue any aircraft attempting to disengage and recoup. However, the Mk IIa also retains the same deficiencies of the Mk Ia, namely the weak but numerous Browning machine guns. While they present great volume of fire, they do not have great stopping power and are also quite limited by convergence due to their spread-out nature across the wings, and thus may require a long time on target to successfully down an opponent.

General info

Flight performance

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 4,572 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	549	533		15.9	16.5	16.0	16.0	300
Upgraded	597	571		14.4	15.1	23.9	19.4

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
X	X	✓	X	X

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
		N/A	N/A	230	~11	~6

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 321	< 400	< 350	> 500

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
4,490 m	1,140 hp	1,311 hp

Engine performance

Engine
Engine Name			Number present
Rolls-Royce Merlin-XII 12-cylinder			1
Engine characteristics
Weight (each)		Type	Cooling
625 kg		Inline	Water
Engine power (Stock)
Mode	Max		Take-off
Arcade	921 hp		1,074 hp
Realistic/Simulator	911 hp		1,064 hp
Engine power (Upgraded)
Mode	Max		Take-off
Arcade	1,148 hp		1,301 hp
Realistic/Simulator	1,020 hp		1,173 hp

WEP Duration
Arcade		Realistic/Simulator
25 seconds		Infinite

Survivability and armour

• 38 mm Bulletproof glass in cockpit front.
• 4 mm Steel plate in pilot's seat.
• 6-7 mm Steel plate behind the pilot.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The Spitfire Mk IIa is armed with:

• 8 x 7.7 mm Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (350 rpg = 2,800 total)

Usage in battles

The Spitfire should climb at the beginning of battle in order to utilise its very good climb rate. It can reliably attain an altitude advantage over the enemy, which allows the pilot to pick and choose which engagements they wish to take part in but you should not fight enemies while on high altitude as engine performance is terrible over certain one.

The Spitfire also has very good turning characteristics, and turn-fight engagements are usually the best way to fight. It is possible to fake a head-on (by pulling away once your enemy starts firing) if you're forced to by an enemy plane but it is highly recommended to never commit to a head-on engagement. A sensible opponent will try to energy fight you which you need to look out for. You can lose your energy faster than you realize and when you do, you've most likely been baited and are an easy target. However, if you are able to engage the enemy in an extended turn, the plane's great turn rate will work wonders.

The Spitfire has a relatively good ammo count, spread between a very high number of guns. But, the 8 machine guns are only 7.7 mm in calibre, and are wing-mounted, meaning that convergence is an issue. This also means that accuracy when firing head-on can be difficult. It is recommended to set convergence at 300-500 m. This plane's guns can also be used against lightly-armoured ground targets such as artillery, AAA, or howitzers.

This plane can often suffer from overheating issues. Be careful about this when deciding to enter into an engagement; if it becomes necessary to reduce throttle and cool the engine in the midst of a turning- or energy-based engagement, there may be an opportunity for the enemy to gain the upper hand.

Specific enemies worth noting

• Heavy bombers - Although the Spitfire Mk IIa is armed with 8 guns, they are only 7.7 mm in calibre. So, it can be difficult to destroy heavy fighters, attackers, and especially bombers. It is likely that long bursts will be necessary to destroy such targets, and that gives time for enemy turret gunners to shoot back. Luckily, most bombers at this tier are not defended by turrets from all angles. Try to plan attack runs so that you don't fly in the enemy's line of fire.
• Bf 109s can do tremendous amounts of damage if you don't watch out. They have quite good turning performance and their energy retention is excellent with a skilled pilot.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Controllable Not auto controlled	Not controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Separate	Not controllable 1 gear	Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Eight 7.7 mm machine guns provide great anti-fighter power
• Great turn rate
• Good roll rate at low speed
• Great rate of climb
• Decent armour, a front 38 mm glass and rear 4-7 mm steel plates

Cons:

• Machine guns only effective in continuous bursts and only on short range
• Ammo can run out quickly in prolonged, uncontrolled bursts
• Quick kills against large bombers are difficult
• Machine guns cannot penetrate heavily armoured targets
• Bad high altitude performance
• Roll rate stiffens dramatically at ~350 km/h
• Pulling negative G's and rolling the plane (Realistic/simulator only) can cause the carburettor (engine) to fail quickly
• Terrible water radiator forces you to keep on 90% throttle
• No combat nor take-off flaps

History

Archive of the in-game description

The Supermarine Spitfire was a British fighter which served with various nations from the late 1930s up into the 1950s. It was a single-engine, all-metal, low-wing monoplane with retractable landing gear. Various modifications served as fighters, interceptors, high-altitude fighters, fighter-bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. A total of some 20,300 Spitfires of all types were built during the war, including two-seater trainers. In the summer of 1939, an early Spitfire Mk I was fitted with the new Rolls Royce Merlin XII engine, which had a higher output of 1175 HP and was fitted with a Coffman engine starter instead of the previous Merlin's electrical starter system. This, combined with the Rotol variable pitch propeller which had been used on many Spitfire Mk Is would now form the powerplant of the new Spitfire Mk II, although some production models used the De Havilland propeller. The Mk II was some 10-11 km/h (6-7 mph) faster than the later Spitfire Mk I, but still slower than the original Spitfires before a series of modifications increased the aircraft's weight. As with the Mk I, the Spitfire Mk II was produced with either eight machine guns as the Spitfire Mk IIA, or two 20 mm cannons and four machine guns as the Mk IIb. The earlier problems with cannon fitted to the Mk IB had now been solved by introducing a belt feed system to the weapon to replace the earlier drum, turning the cannon on its side and fitting a blister on the wing to house the new mechanism. 920 Spitfire Mk IIs entered service; 750 Mk IIA and 170 MK IIB, although fighters used in the air-sea rescue role were later designated Mk IIC. The Spitfire II quickly replaced the Spitfire I, with the older variant being relegated to use in Operational Training Units. By April 1941, RAF Fighter Command had completed re-equipping with the Mk II, although this too would soon be replaced by the Mk V.

Media

Images

• 

Skins

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

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

• Official data sheet - more details about the performance