Spitfire F Mk XIVe

From War Thunder Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
Rank 6 USA
F-5C Pack
This page is about the British fighter Spitfire F Mk XIVe. For the premium version, see Spitfire FR Mk XIVe. For other versions, see Spitfire (Family).
spitfire_mk14e.png
GarageImage Spitfire F Mk XIVe.jpg
Spitfire F Mk XIVe
AB RB SB
5.0 5.7 5.3
Class:
Research:46 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:155 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The Spitfire F Mk XIVe was a British WWII-period fighter. Unlike the previous Griffon-powered Mk XIV, the XIVe featured a lowered tail section allowing for better rear view, as well as a new bubble canopy. The armament also differed from the regular Mk XIV as it featured an "E" type wing with two 20 mm Hispano cannons and two 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns instead of the "C" type with two cannons and four 7.7 mm machine guns.

The Spitfire F Mk XIVe was introduced in Update 1.41. Featuring much greater engine power due to its Griffon engine, the Mk XIVe is faster than the previous Merlin-powered variants, at the cost of decreased maneuverability. 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

Max speed
at 6 400 m719 km/h
Turn time17 s
Max altitude12 000 m
EngineRolls-Royce Griffon-65
TypeInline
Cooling systemWater
Take-off weight5 t
Characteristics Max Speed
(km/h at 8,537 m)
Max altitude
(metres)
Turn time
(seconds)
Rate of climb
(metres/second)
Take-off run
(metres)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
Stock 690 670 12000 18.5 19.2 19.0 19.0 400
Upgraded 767 723 16.7 17.4 32.7 24.5

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 + -
794 260 N/A N/A 260 ~10 ~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
4,100 m 1,510 hp 2,150 hp
Setting 2
Optimal altitude 100% Engine power WEP Engine power
8,100 m 1,340 hp 1,852 hp

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person
Speed of destruction
Structural794 km/h
Gear260 km/h
  • 38 mm Bulletproof glass in cockpit front.
  • 4 mm Steel plates in pilot's seat.
  • 4-7 mm Steel plates behind the pilot.
  • 3 mm Steel boxes around the wing ammunition.
  • 12.7 mm Steel plate between fuel tanks.
  • 6 mm Steel plate in front of liquid cooling system.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB2 024 → 2 633 Sl icon.png
RB4 813 → 6 261 Sl icon.png
SB6 888 → 8 961 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications40 400 Rp icon.png
77 900 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost1 400 Ge icon.png
Crew training45 000 Sl icon.png
Experts155 000 Sl icon.png
Aces820 Ge icon.png
Research Aces440 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
80 / 190 / 410 % Sl icon.png
160 / 160 / 160 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
Mods aerodinamic fuse.png
Fuselage repair
Research:
2 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 900 Sl icon.png
160 Ge icon.png
Mods radiator.png
Radiator
Research:
2 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 900 Sl icon.png
160 Ge icon.png
Mods compressor.png
Compressor
Research:
2 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 400 Sl icon.png
185 Ge icon.png
Mods aerodinamic wing.png
Wings repair
Research:
2 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 800 Sl icon.png
200 Ge icon.png
Mods new engine.png
Engine
Research:
2 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 800 Sl icon.png
200 Ge icon.png
Mods metanol.png
Engine injection
Research:
4 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
8 500 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mods armor frame.png
Airframe
Research:
2 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 400 Sl icon.png
185 Ge icon.png
Mods armor cover.png
Cover
Research:
4 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
8 500 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mods ammo.png
bmg50_belt_pack
Research:
2 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 900 Sl icon.png
160 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods ammo.png
hispano_belt_pack
Research:
2 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 900 Sl icon.png
160 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods weapon.png
bmg50raf_new_gun
Research:
2 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 400 Sl icon.png
185 Ge icon.png
Mods weapon.png
hispano_mk2_new_gun
Research:
2 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 400 Sl icon.png
185 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
SMBC mk.2
Research:
2 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 800 Sl icon.png
200 Ge icon.png
Mods gun camora mod.png
Mk.II year 1942
Research:
2 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 800 Sl icon.png
200 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods gun camora mod.png
Mk.II year 1943
Research:
4 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
8 500 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png

Priority to research:

  1. Radiator - The stock engine overheats too fast, getting this upgrade first will be useful in dogfights where WEP is needed.
  2. Compressor - This is a good upgrade to get as the stock engine is pretty average.
  3. Offensive 20mm belts - While the 20mm belts are good for the, well, belts, the reason to research this is to research "New 20mm cannons" to sort of mitigate the jamming and accuracy of the 20mm.
  4. New 20mm cannons
  5. Engine - As the Spitfire will be facing mostly German planes which are primarily energy fighters, this upgrade will help with dogfighting German planes.

After that, the rest is up to the pilots preference, but research the fuselage repair last as it does little to the aircrafts performance.

Armaments

Offensive armament

Ammunition270 rounds
Fire rate600 shots/min
Ammunition520 rounds
Fire rate750 shots/min

The Spitfire F Mk XIVe is armed with:

  • 2 x 20 mm Hispano Mk.II cannons, wing-mounted (135 rpg = 270 total)
  • 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, wing-mounted (260 rpg = 520 total)

Suspended armament

List of setups (1)
Setup 11 x G.P. 500 lb Mk.IV bomb

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

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

Usage in battles

The Spitfire F Mk XIVe, being outfitted with a Griffon engine, does not have as stellar of a climb rate as its Merlin engine counterparts. However, it still does have a very competitive rate of climb, and can usually come out above all but a few opponents. With such an altitude advantage, the pilot is able to choose which engagements to pursue, and the ability to choose engagements wisely is necessary. Since dogfighting in the Spitfire can involve prolonged turn-fights, make sure that no other enemies are nearby, or that if there are, that they can be dealt with by teammates. This plane's engines gives it great acceleration, and it also accelerates well in dives. Be careful though, since at very high speeds, sharp maneuvers may cause the wings to snap.

As far as maneuverability goes, the Spitfire is still very good at turning, especially at high altitudes. It also has a good roll rate, making rolling scissors maneuvers a viable tactic in dogfights.

With these flight characteristics, the Spitfire is a sort of jack of all trades. It can turn fight well, of course, but it can also boom and zoom or energy fight with much success. However, the plane does have some drawbacks. For one, the powerful engine is prone to overheating, so throttle and WEP management may be necessary. Additionally, performance at low altitudes can be inadequate in certain situations. Finally, the only ordnance that the plane can carry is a single 500 lb bomb. While this can certainly destroy an enemy tank in ground realistic battles, precise aim is required to do so consistently, and the one bomb is the only anti-tank weapon that the plane has. Still, it excels in an anti-fighter role in ground RB; its excellent maneuverability is well suited for the gamemode's tendency to involve one on one dogfights.

The Spitfire F Mk XIVe carries a fairly standard ammunition count: not particularly high and not very low. It's possible to spray a little bit, but it is also wise to keep an eye on your ammo count, and to preserve ammunition if possible.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer Pitch Radiator Supercharger Turbocharger
Oil Water Type
Not controllable Controllable
Auto control available
Not controllable
Not auto controlled
Controllable
Auto control available
Combined Controllable
2 gears
Not controllable

Supercharger - Use gear 1 from sea level to 4,000 m. Once you've hit roughly 4 km, switch to supercharger gear 2 to maintain performance. The output of the engine in the first gear will slowly gain from sea level to 2 km, then at 4 km and above it will begin to drop performance, which is when you should switch to the second supercharger stage.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Very good at turning, especially at high altitude
  • Excellent climb rate
  • Very powerful engine that provides a very good acceleration
  • Very good dive rate
  • Good roll rate
  • Very accurate guns when modifications have been researched and equipped
  • Lots of ammo for cannons and machine guns
  • Can perform turn-fights, Boom-and-Zoom and energy fighting equally
  • Effective counter to high-altitude fighters (Ta 152, G.56, etc.)
  • Bubble-style canopy offers excellent visibility for simulator battles
  • Good turn rate at low speeds

Cons:

  • Poor performance and maneuverability at low altitude
  • No combat flaps configuration
  • Gear and landing flaps rip easily: safe landings must be approached very slowly
  • Oil and water overheat quickly
  • Guns perform inadequately when stock
  • Insufficient close air support payload options
  • Inadequate armament for hunting heavy bombers like the B-17G-60-VE or the G8N1
  • Poor wing lift coefficient when at high altitude, low speeds and stock

History


Archive of the in-game description

The Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XIV was a single engine, single seat fighter which served with the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. In 1941 the Spitfire Mk.IV was the first Spitfire to be trialed with the new Rolls Royce Griffon engine. By the time the Griffon Spitfire entered service with the RAF in February 1943, subsequent modifications had redesignated the aircraft as the Spitfire Mk.XII. As successful as this new Spitfire was at low altitudes, the Mk.XII's performance was actually inferior to the Merlin engine Mk.IX at medium and high altitudes. Thus, the Spitfire Mk.XIV entered service as an interim fix. Fitted with a Rolls Royce Griffon 65 with two-stage supercharger producing 2,050 hp, the Mk.XIV immediately corrected many of the performance shortcomings suffered by the Mk.XII. The fuselage was strengthened to harness the powerful engine and a five bladed Rotol propeller replaced the earlier four bladed examples. Early models were fitted with the Type C wing although later Mk.XIVs were equipped with the Type E wing housing two 20 mm Hispano cannons and two .50 cal Browning machine guns or four 20 mm cannons, as well as a high visibility teardrop canopy. A common modification to the Mk.XIV was the clipped wing, which increased roll rate and gave a marginal increase to speed, but at the most of rate of climb.

The Spitfire Mk.XIV entered service with Nos. 91, 322 and 610 Squadrons in southeast England where it saw notable success as an interceptor against V-1 Flying Bombs but also as part of the 2nd Tactical Air Force in operations over occupied Europe. Spitfire Mk.XIVs were also planned for use in the Far East but whilst a number of airframes were shipped to Burma, none were operational before the end of the war. The Spitfire Mk.XIV met mixed reviews from its pilots; whilst there was no doubt of the huge performance increase the new variant offered, it was uncomfortable to fly and lacked the balance and control harmonization of earlier Merlin engine Spitfires. Just under 1,000 Spitfire Mk.XIVs were produced with exports being employed by the Air Forces of India, Belgium and Thailand.


Media

Skins
Videos

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


Supermarine
Spitfires 
Merlin engine  Spitfire Mk Ia · Spitfire Mk IIa · Spitfire Mk.IIa Venture I · Spitfire Mk IIb
  Spitfire Mk Vb · Spitfire Mk Vb/trop · Spitfire Mk Vc · Spitfire Mk Vc/trop
  Spitfire F Mk IX · Spitfire F Mk IXc · Spitfire F Mk XVI
  Spitfire LF Mk IX · Plagis' Spitfire LF Mk IXc
Griffon engine  Spitfire F Mk XIVc · Spitfire F Mk XIVe · Prendergast's Spitfire FR Mk XIVe · Spitfire F Mk XVIIIe · Spitfire F Mk 22 · Spitfire F Mk 24
Export  ▄Spitfire Mk Vb/trop · ▃Spitfire LF Mk IXc · ▂Spitfire Mk IXc · Spitfire Mk IXc · Spitfire Mk.IX (CW) · Spitfire LF Mk.IXe Weizman's
Seafires  Seafire LF Mk.III · Seafire F Mk XVII · Seafire FR 47
Export  ▄Seafire LF Mk.III
Jet fighters  Attacker FB 1 · Attacker FB.2 · Scimitar F Mk.1 · Swift F.1 · Swift F.7
Hydroplanes  Walrus Mk.I

Britain fighters
Fury  Fury Mk I · Fury Mk II
Nimrod  Nimrod Mk I · Nimrod Mk II
Gladiator  Gladiator Mk II · Tuck's Gladiator Mk II · Gladiator Mk IIF · Gladiator Mk IIS
Sea Gladiator  Sea Gladiator Mk I
Hurricane  Hurricane Mk I/L · Hurricane Mk.I/L FAA M · Hurricane Mk IIB/Trop
Sea Hurricane  Sea Hurricane Mk IB · Sea Hurricane Mk IC
Martin-Baker  MB.5
Spitfire (early-Merlin)  Spitfire Mk Ia · Spitfire Mk IIa · Spitfire Mk.IIa Venture I · Spitfire Mk IIb · Spitfire Mk Vb/trop · Spitfire Mk Vb · Spitfire Mk Vc/trop · Spitfire Mk Vc
Spitfire (late-Merlin)  Spitfire F Mk IX · Spitfire LF Mk IX · Spitfire F Mk IXc · Plagis' Spitfire LF Mk IXc · Spitfire F Mk XVI
Spitfire (Griffon)  Spitfire F Mk XIVc · Spitfire F Mk XIVe · Prendergast's Spitfire FR Mk XIVe · Spitfire F Mk XVIIIe · Spitfire F Mk 22 · Spitfire F Mk 24
Seafire  Seafire LF Mk.III · Seafire F Mk XVII · Seafire FR 47
Typhoon  Typhoon Mk Ia · Typhoon Mk Ib · Typhoon Mk Ib/L
Tempest  Tempest Mk II · Tempest Mk V
Sea Fury  Sea Fury FB 11
Twin-engine fighters  Hornet Mk.I · Hornet Mk.III · Whirlwind Mk I · Whirlwind P.9
  Foreign:
Australia  ▄Boomerang Mk I · ▄Boomerang Mk II
France  ▄D.520 · ▄D.521
USA  ▄Martlet Mk IV · ▄Corsair F Mk II · ▄Hellcat Mk II · ▄Thunderbolt Mk.1 · ▄Mustang Mk IA