Supermarine Spitfire Mk II (Types 329 & 343*)

Role Interceptor fighter

Crew One

Designers Reginald J Mitchell (May 1895- June 1937) & Joseph Smith

Production 920 planes built (750 Mk IIA; 170 Mk IIB)

Engine Liquid-cooled 12 cylinder v-formation 1,175 hp Rolls- Royce Merlin XII

Propeller Rotol constant speed three-blade prop

Length 29ft 11in

Height (to tip of propeller) 11ft 5½in

Wingspan 36ft 10in

Wing area 242 sq ft

Weight

Unloaded 4,783 lb

Loaded 6,172 lb

Range 395 miles

Max level speed 354 mph at 17,554 ft

Rate of climb 2,925 feet per minute

Ceiling 37,600 ft

Armament

MkIIA Eight .303 Browning machine guns – 300 rounds each

MkIIB Four .303 Browning machine guns; two 20mm Hispano cannon

* The Type 343 had a 40 gallon fuel tank under its port wing and was used as a long range escort fighter – 60 Mk IIAs were modified.