We're the clipped wings designed to give a rate of turn equal to the Hurricane
Clipped wings
Starting with the Mk. V, some Spitfires had their classic elliptical wingtips replaced by shorter, squared-off fairings reducing span to 32 ft 2 in (9.80 m). Shortening the wing span substantially enhanced the roll rate, closing the gap in this respect between the Spitfire and the formidable German Focke-Wulf Fw 190.
The clipped-wing Spitfires are sometimes being referred to as “L.F.” versions, e.g.: LF Mk Vb. Formally, this is a misunderstanding as the LF designation referred to the low-altitude version of the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine and while many LF Spitfires had the clipped wings, a number did not.
They were not concerned about the Hurricane as they outmanoeuvred it from day one - it was the German adversary of the day they were constantly developing for.
Last edited by 4/4sportsfun; 20/12/14 08:09 AM.
