The first Spitfire Mk V was produced in January 1941 and proved to be as good as the Mk III and less complicated. The Mk V was the most produced variant of the Spitfire and the main version throughout 1941 and was a better aircraft than the Bf-109 but that all changed with the introduction of the Fw-190. The Mk V remained the RAF fighter through the summer of 1942 and saw several variants developed using bigger engines, new wing types and more armament. There were 20,351 Mk V aircraft built in all variants.

Specifications

• Role: Interceptor Fighter
• Mk.1A Produced: 3,923
• Crew: one
• Performance:
  • Engine: 1 X 1,440 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 45/46/50 V-12
  • Speed: 371 mph (597 km/h) @ 20,000 ft (6,096 m)
  • Climb Rate: 20,000 ft / 7.5 min (6,095 m in 7.5 min)
  • Service Ceiling: 37,000 ft (11,278 m)
  • Normal Range: 470 miles (756 km)
• Weight:
  • Empty: 5,100 lb (2,313 kg
  • Maximum: 6,785 lb (3,078 kg)
• Dimensions:
  • Length: 29 ft 11 in (9.11 m)
  • Height: 11 ft 5 in (3.48 m)
  • Wingspan: 36 ft 10 in (11.23 m)
• Armament
  • In wings:
    • 2 x 20-mm cannon
    • 4 x 0.303-in machine-guns
• External: Centre-line rack for 500 lb bomb or tank