19.04.2010, 23:41
@Fireskull.
This is the specific sentence I wrote my earlier post in reply to.
While I mostly agree with your point, for example while the Spitfire IX did outperform the Bf109F when brought into service in July 1942, the older Spitfire V remained the most common Mark into at least September or October of that year, and for even longer outside the UK based RAF squadrons.
Similarly, while the MkXIV did hold superior speed and climb performance over any version of Bf109 up until the K, the most common Spitfire in service throughout that period was of course the MkIX, and the late model G versions of the Bf109 are at least faster in a straight line, although not superior in climb rate.
A real superiority in speed and climb by the standard Spitfire in service over the standard Bf109 was only be held between the widescale introduction to service of the later versions of the Spitfire IX (Merlin 63 and 66) in mid 1943 and the service debut of the Bf109G10 and G14 in late 1944 (thanks to heavy losses of earlier G models at this time, the late model G's rapidly became the most common version in service).
Still, this is a period of more than a year when the standard service Spitfire was faster and climbed better than the standard service Bf109, hence what I was saying about it not being entirely true that the Bf109 enjoyed a margin of superiority over the Spitfire in these aspects throughout the war.
Regards
Fireskull Wrote:For frontline fighters-which saw the vast majority of combat, actual accounts show that this remained true until almost the end of World War Two: Spitfires being somewhat more maneuverable and Bf-109s being somewhat faster with better climb.
This is the specific sentence I wrote my earlier post in reply to.
While I mostly agree with your point, for example while the Spitfire IX did outperform the Bf109F when brought into service in July 1942, the older Spitfire V remained the most common Mark into at least September or October of that year, and for even longer outside the UK based RAF squadrons.
Similarly, while the MkXIV did hold superior speed and climb performance over any version of Bf109 up until the K, the most common Spitfire in service throughout that period was of course the MkIX, and the late model G versions of the Bf109 are at least faster in a straight line, although not superior in climb rate.
A real superiority in speed and climb by the standard Spitfire in service over the standard Bf109 was only be held between the widescale introduction to service of the later versions of the Spitfire IX (Merlin 63 and 66) in mid 1943 and the service debut of the Bf109G10 and G14 in late 1944 (thanks to heavy losses of earlier G models at this time, the late model G's rapidly became the most common version in service).
Still, this is a period of more than a year when the standard service Spitfire was faster and climbed better than the standard service Bf109, hence what I was saying about it not being entirely true that the Bf109 enjoyed a margin of superiority over the Spitfire in these aspects throughout the war.
Regards