Spitfire F Mk 24

This page is about the British fighter Spitfire F Mk 24. For other versions, see Spitfire (Family).

Spitfire F Mk 24

Spitfire F Mk 22

Meteor F Mk 3

Spitfire F Mk 24

Spitfire F Mk 22

Meteor F Mk 3

Britain

IV Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
6.3	6.7	6.7

Class:

Fighter

Research:35 000

Purchase:210 000

Show in game

Description

The Spitfire F Mk 24 was the last production model of the famous Supermarine Spitfire. A total of 54 Mk 24 were manufactured, with 27 rebuilt from Mk 22 models. The Mk 24 was largely similar to the previous Mk 22, with the exception of having two rear fuselage fuel tanks installed as well as different rocket mountings allowing for installation of up to eight RP-3 rockets as opposed to six on the Mk 22. The main armament also differed, as some later production Mk 24s were armed with four 20 mm Hispano Mk.V cannons as opposed to Mk.II on the Spitfire Mk 22 or early and reserve variants of the Mk 24. The in-game model is a recreation of VN318, which was armed with Mk.II cannons.

The Spitfire F Mk 24 was introduced in Update 1.39. It is the pinnacle of piston-powered aircraft, one of the first superprops. The playstyle of Mk 24 is very similar to the previous Griffon-powered Spitfires, with the exception of different armament as the Mk 24 is armed with four 20 mm Hispano cannons. Early jet aircraft that pilots may come across are at a severe disadvantage when encountering the Spitfire, as it can out-turn and also catch the majority of these in a dive. The Mk 24 also possesses higher engine power due to the usage of 150 octane fuel, which is unavailable for the previous Mk 22.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed

at 7 315 m753 km/h

Turn time18 s

Max altitude11 800 m

EngineRolls-Royce Griffon-61

TypeInline

Cooling systemWater

Take-off weight6 t

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 8,232 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	721	699	11800	19.4	20.2	19.8	19.8	420
Upgraded	837	778		17.2	17.6	39.4	28.3

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	+	-
875	260	N/A	N/A	260	~11	~6

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 482	< 400	< 400	> 500

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
4,600 m	1,510 hp	2,190 hp
Setting 2
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
8,600 m	1,360 hp	1,993 hp

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural875 km/h

Gear260 km/h

• 3 mm Steel - Armour plating ammo cover (both wings)
• 6 mm Steel - Upper prop hub plate
• 12.7 mm Steel - Fore cockpit armour plate
• 4 mm Steel - Pilot's seat
• 7 mm Steel - Behind pilot's seat
• 4 mm Steel - Pilot's headrest
• 42.8 mm Bulletproof glass - Armoured windscreen

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB3 275 → 4 188

RB8 314 → 10 633

SB12 368 → 15 818

Total cost of modifications61 600

102 200

Talisman cost1 800

Crew training61 000

Experts210 000

Aces1 200

Research Aces570 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

110 / 300 / 600 %

178 / 178 / 178 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 200 230 Radiator Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 200 230 Compressor Research: 3 500 Cost: 5 800 260 Wings repair Research: 3 800 Cost: 6 300 290 Engine Research: 3 800 Cost: 6 300 290 Engine injection Research: 4 000 Cost: 6 600 300 150 octane fuel Research: 4 000 Cost: 6 600 300	Airframe Research: 3 500 Cost: 5 800 260 Cover Research: 4 000 Cost: 6 600 300	SMBC mk.2 Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 200 230 SMBC mk.3 Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 200 230 SMBC mk.2 Research: 3 500 Cost: 5 800 260 MBC mk.3 Research: 3 500 Cost: 5 800 260 hispano_belt_pack Research: 3 800 Cost: 6 300 290 HRC mk.8 Research: 3 800 Cost: 6 300 290 Mk.II year 1943 Research: 4 000 Cost: 6 600 300 Triplex R.P. Research: 4 000 Cost: 6 600 300

The Spitfire F Mk 24's performance relies on its engine and that should thus be the focus of research. It is recommended you progress through your research in the following order:

1. Radiator
2. Compressor
3. Airframe
4. Offensive 20 mm
5. Engine
6. Engine injection
7. 150 octane fuel
8. Wings repair
9. Cover
10. Fuselage Repair

After you have researched all of the above, complete the remaining research in any order. The Offensive 20 mm upgrade is incredibly useful due to the power of the "Air targets" belt on Hispano Mk.II cannons, which is why it is prioritized over the Engine upgrades even with the focus on engine-related upgrades.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The Spitfire F Mk 24 is armed with:

• 4 x 20 mm Hispano Mk.II cannons, wing-mounted (175 rpg inner + 150 rpg outer = 650 total)

Suspended armament

The Spitfire F Mk 24 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 2 x 250 lb G.P. Mk.IV bombs (500 lb total)
• 3 x 250 lb G.P. Mk.IV bombs (750 lb total)
• 2 x 500 lb G.P. Mk.IV bombs (1,000 lb total)
• 1 x 500 lb G.P. Mk.IV bomb + 2 x 250 lb G.P. Mk.IV bombs (1,000 lb total)
• 3 x 500 lb G.P. Mk.IV bombs (1,500 lb total)
• 8 x RP-3 rockets
• 2 x 250 lb G.P. Mk.IV bombs + 4 x RP-3 rockets (500 lb total)
• 2 x Triplex R.P. rockets

Usage in battles

The new wing shape and larger control surfaces of the 22/24 series are a distinctive feature of the aircraft.

The Spitfire F Mk 24 is an outstanding plane in realistic battles with few weaknesses, meaning the enemy will have a really hard time either catching the Mk 24 or shaking it off of their tail, and only the most skilled of opponents will stand a chance.

It is very important to monitor your energy state, as the Spitfire F Mk 24 is a relatively large fighter aircraft and will be a big target at low speeds.

The main task for a Mk 24 pilot is to utilize the immense power of the Rolls-Royce Griffon engine, which allows the Spitfire to climb at an insanely high rate. The pilot should always use his climb rate to his advantage in combat, using his altitude to dictate the terms of an engagement. Target altitude should usually be around 5-6 km on smaller maps and 6-7 km on larger maps such as Norway or Spain where the Griffon engine will perform optimally.

The Spitfire F Mk 24's main combat tactic is Boom & Zooming due to its outstanding speed, armament, and engine output. Because of the last point, Energy fighting is an option open to the Mk 24 as well, when engaging an enemy separated from his team. The Rolls-Royce Griffon engine is what opens the Spitfire F Mk 24 to both of these tactics. Not only does the Griffon engine bestow the Mk 24 with incredible top speed, but it also causes the fighter to accelerate incredibly fast allowing it to keep its speed for longer even in a sharp climb.

Although boom-and-zooming and energy fighting are the main tactics of the Spitfire F Mk 24, the fighter is also able to keep up with most enemies in-turn fights with few exceptions (namely Japanese fighters). Try to maintain a speed of between 400-500 km/h; this is where the plane maintains a high turn rate. Turning below this velocity against planes such as the P-51H-5-NA is not recommended. The Mk 24 should avoid combat at low altitude especially versus Soviet fighters who excel below 4 km. The Mk 24's strength is at high altitude combat, where it can fully utilize the power of its Griffon engine to excel in combat.

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

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Powerful engine which provides incredible climb rate, good acceleration and top speed
• Equipped with 4 x 20 mm Hispano Mk.II cannons, which are highly powerful and have a high rate of fire
• Incredible at energy fighting
• Performs extremely well at medium to high altitudes
• Excellent acceleration in a dive
• High turn rate at medium speeds
• Is an excellent vehicle to go against jets with
• Very good roll rate
• Very high wing rip speed
• Works well with manual engine control
• High climb rate

Cons:

• Armament is mounted on the wings
• Wings are susceptible to shearing at higher speeds
• WEP causes the plane to consume fuel at a fast rate
• Suffers at lower altitudes where the engine isn't operating at full potential
• Relatively poor low-speed performance
• Mostly faces jets
• Underwing radiators create a large amount of drag, especially when open

History

Archive of the in-game description

The Supermarine Spitfire Mk.24 was a single engine, single seat fighter which served with the Royal Air Force during the early post war period. The Mk.24 was the very last land based Spitfire of the long and illustrious line of fighters. It differed only from late production Spitfire Mk.22s in having two extra fuel tanks fitted in the rear fuselage and provisions for under wing rockets. Late versions of the Spitfire Mk.24 were also fitted with the short barrel 20 mm Hispano Mk.V cannon. Only 54 Spitfire Mk.24s were built with a further 27 being converted from Mk.22 airframes. Contra-rotating propellers were tested on the Mk.21, 22 and 24 Spitfires but were still not perfected in time to see service on this last Spitfire variant. The contra-rotating propeller would, however see front line service with the Fleet Air Arm's Seafire Mk.46 and Mk.47. The Spitfire Mk.24 entered service in 1946 with No.80 Squadron in Gutersloh, Germany; the squadron later moved to Hong Kong. In January 1952 the RAF's last front line Spitfire squadron handed its aircraft over to the Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force, ending a legacy of over 25 years of perhaps the most famous and iconic fighter aircraft in aviation history.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Spitfire F Mk 24 from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

The Shooting Range #95 - Metal Beasts section at 06:03 discusses the Spitfire F Mk 24.

The Shooting Range #124 - War Machines section at 00:28 discusses the Griffon Spitfires.

Best Combo #2 discusses the Spitfire F Mk 24 at 2:00 - War Thunder Official Channel

Last piston fighters discusses the Spitfire F Mk 24 at 3:29 - War Thunder Official Channel

See also

Related development

• Spitfire (Family)

External links

• Official data sheet - more details about the performance