Spitfire F Mk XVI
Contents
| This page is about the British fighter Spitfire F Mk XVI. For other versions, see Spitfire (Family). |
Description
The Spitfire F Mk XVI is a rank III British fighter
with a battle rating of 4.7 (AB) and 5.0 (RB/SB). It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27.
The Spitfire F Mk XVI is a very unique plane with an awkwardly unique role and design. Virtually identical to the Spitfire LF Mk IX, aside from the clipped wings and bubble cockpit, the Mk XVI combines the low-altitude capabilities of the aforementioned fighter with the fantastic roll, dive, and speed capabilities of the German Focke-Wulfe 190 series.
The Mk XVI possesses all the characteristics of the LF Mk IX regarding armament and performance at low-altitude. Low-altitude climb acceleration is fantastic, the climb rate is very good, and armament is extremely effective. The main distinguishing feature of the Mk XVI is its clipped wings. These wings give the Mk XVI some distinct advantages- a great roll rate and amazing dive and level speed and acceleration. The roll rate makes evasion a very easy task- rolling manoeuvres can easily evade most tail-end attacks by any fighter in the 4.0-6.0 BR range. Even more, the clipped wings of the XVI provide for very good low-altitude speed and acceleration performance- this fighter climbs like a rocket and dives like a hornet below 1,500 m.
However, the clipped wings can provide some significant disadvantages to flying, as well. Compared to similar Merlin Spitfires the turn rate is far worse, higher-altitude performance is abysmal, and climb performance is worse, though marginally.
Weaponry is standard, except for the 2 x Browning M2 12.7 mm HMGs that replace the standard 4 x Browning .303 machine guns. As a matter of fact, the two M2s provide a significant increase in firepower. When equipped with Universal or Stealth belts they provide excellent "soft" ground target dispatching performance while proving effective as a last-ditch weapon. As with most of the Spitfire line, the Mk XVI possesses 2 x Hispano-Suiza Mk.II 20 mm cannons which are highly effective against most fighters, especially when utilising the "Air Targets" belt.
Thus, the Spitfire F Mk XVI is not a suitable Boom & Zoom nor high-altitude fighter; it works best as a low-altitude fighter-bomber that can effectively take out ground targets while providing good fighter cover. Boom and Run is by far the best-recommended tactic.
General info
Flight performance
Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.
| Characteristics | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | |||||||
| Max Speed (km/h at 6,098 m) |
Max altitude (meters) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (meters/second) |
Take-off run (meters) | |||
| AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | ||
| 624 | 603 | 11000 | 21.0 | 21.8 | 17.5 | 17.5 | 390 |
| Upgraded | |||||||
| Max Speed (km/h at 6,098 m) |
Max altitude (meters) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (meters/second) |
Take-off run (meters) | |||
| AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | ||
| 685 | 651 | 11000 | 18.7 | 19.8 | 29.2 | 22.3 | 390 |
Details
| Features | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat flaps | Take-off flaps | Landing flaps | Air brakes | Arrestor gear |
| X | X | ✓ | X | X |
| Limits | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wing-break speed (km/h) |
Gear limit (km/h) |
Combat flaps (km/h) |
Max Static G | |
| + | - | |||
| 290 | ~9 | ~5 | ||
| Optimal velocities | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ailerons (km/h) |
Rudder (km/h) |
Elevators (km/h) |
Radiator (km/h) |
| < 321 | < 400 | < 350 | > 500 |
| Compressor (RB/SB) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Setting 1 | ||
| Optimal altitude | 100% Engine power | WEP Engine power |
| 3,400 m | 1,380 hp | 1,766 hp |
| Setting 2 | ||
| Optimal altitude | 100% Engine power | WEP Engine power |
| 7,200 m | 1,190 hp | 1,523 hp |
Survivability and armour
- 38 mm Bulletproof glass - Armoured windscreen
- 4 mm Steel plate in pilot's seat
- 3-7 mm Steel plate behind the pilot
- 6 mm Steel plate in front of liquid cooling system
- 1 mm Steel plate in front of fuel tanks
- 3 mm Steel boxes around wing ammunition
Armaments
Offensive armament
The Spitfire F Mk XVI 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
The Spitfire F Mk XVI can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
- Without load
- 2 x 250 lb G.P. 250 lb Mk.IV bombs (500 lb total)
Usage in battles
Describe the tactics of playing in an aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).
Manual Engine Control
| MEC elements | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixer | Pitch | Radiator | Supercharger | Turbocharger | ||
| Oil | Water | Type | ||||
| Controllable | Controllable Auto control available |
Not controllable Auto control available |
Controllable Auto control available |
Combined | Controllable 2 gears |
Not controllable |
Modules
| Tier | Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | Fuselage repair | Radiator | Offensive 12 mm | Offensive 20 mm | |
| II | Compressor | Airframe | New 12 mm MGs | New 20 mm cannons | |
| III | Wings repair | Engine | SBC mark 25 | Mk.II year 1942 | |
| IV | Engine injection | Cover | Mk.II year 1943 | ||
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Good climb speed, albeit lower than non-clipped wing variants
- New M2 HMGs are far more effective than the Browning .303s
- Great roll rate
- Good guns
- Great dive acceleration
- Better dive speed than other Merlin Spitfires
- Better turning that most of its German and American counterparts
- Ability to mount bombs for a decent late-game ground attack option
- Slightly better simulator visibility due to its bubble cockpit
- Stock parts are not as bad as some other T4-5 planes, such as the P-51D-5, Ki-84 and Late Bf109s
Cons:
- Worse turning than all other Merlin Spitfires
- Worse dive speed than its German and American counterparts
- Poor performance at altitude
- Relatively low rip speed (650 kph)
- The RAF M2 HMGs are not as good as their American counterpart, the M2 Early/Late
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: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under === In-game description ===, also if applicable).
In-game description
The Supermarine Spitfire was a British single-engine, all-metal, low-wing monoplane fighter. Various modifications served as fighters, interceptors, high-altitude fighters, fighter-bombers and reconnaissance aircraft.
The Mk XVI variant was very similar to the Mk IX; however, it was powered by a US-manufactured Packard Merlin 266 engine. A total of 1,054 Spitfires of this variant were produced. All production variants had the distinguishing feature of low-altitude clipped wings and a cut down rear fuselage and bubble canopy for increased visibility. The clipped wings increased the roll rate and top speed due to a reduction in drag, but sacrificed some of the fighter's rate of climb. This, coupled with an engine optimised for efficiency in denser air made the Mk XVI ideally suited to combat at lower altitudes.
Media
Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.
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
Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:
- topic on the official game forum;
- encyclopedia page on the aircraft;
- other literature.
