Correct Aircraft Service Years and Numbers

[5./JG27.Farber]

Originally Posted by csThor

E-1 - production began in January 1939
E-3 - production began in late 1939
E-4 - production began in spring 1940 (with the great majority of previous versions being re-equipped with MG-FF/M and relabeled E-4)

In August 1940 the majority of subtypes were already of the E-4 and E-1 type.

Post 1000

Ermm year but just becasue they are in production doesnt mean they are on the front.

So in the BoB they were generally E1 and E4 then?

[csThor]

Correct. There were only 250 E-4 produced in factories but there were a lot more "in the field" since the earlier versions were reequipped and relabeled as E-4. I think Kurfy had some hard numbers on E-1 v s E-3 vs E-4, but I can't find it ATM.

[5./JG27.Farber]

So really its impossible to say when retrofitted aircraft and how many where in front line service... - This will be why I can't find the dates!

Nuts.

Ok what about the allies?

[_79_dev]

Originally Posted by 5./JG27.Farber

So in the BoB they were generally E1 and E4 then?

This forum has lots of info

http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/avi...tle-29674.html

[bolox]

hurri production- should be detailed enough
http://www.k5083.mistral.co.uk/APS.HTM

spit production- not quite so good on dates
http://www.spitfires.ukf.net/production.htm

spitII
http://spitfiresite.com/2012/01/spit...i-details.html

[NZtyphoon]

Originally Posted by bolox

hurri production- should be detailed enough
http://www.k5083.mistral.co.uk/APS.HTM

spit production- not quite so good on dates
http://www.spitfires.ukf.net/production.htm

spitII
http://spitfiresite.com/2012/01/spit...i-details.html

Spitfire IA was retrospectively applied to Spitfires with 8 x .303s when the Hispano IB - started trials with 19 Sqn in July 1940; before that all were Spitfire Is.
First Spitfire I in service was the third off the production line:

K9789 Ia 3 EA MII 19S Duxford 4-8-38 intensive service trials 4MU VA stripped for detailed exam MMO rep 11-9-39 9MU 10-1-40 65S 27-2-40 8MU 5-7-40 PRU 11-7-40 FACA 1-8-40 57OTU 28-11-40 FAAC 13-1-41 Westland 33MU 19-5-41 61OTU 22-11-41 FACB 7-4-42 ros 45MU 14-12-42 to 359M 14-12-44 2SoTT SOC

http://www.spitfires.ukf.net/p001.htm

[5./JG27.Farber]

So there was only Spit I until July 1940 then they became the Spit Ia? The difference is the prop pitch isnt it? But you mention cannons.

[bolox]

1/1a is purely naming convention to differentiate them from the 1b cannon armed spits, so at a stroke of a pen spit 1 became 1a.
CSP modification is not related to mark #, rather part of ongoing improvements program, but as the 2 occurred at ~ the same time.....

[41Sqn_Banks]

The ingame Spitfire I has the DH 2 pitch propeller and the Spitfire IA a has a Rotol propeller with constant speed unit.
Both were in service alongside already in 1939, however those Spitfires with DH propellers were modified to constant speed unit right before the BoB.

[NZtyphoon]

Originally Posted by 5./JG27.Farber

So there was only Spit I until July 1940 then they became the Spit Ia? The difference is the prop pitch isnt it? But you mention cannons.

The designation had nothing to do with prop pitch - starting in July 1940 19 Squadron was equipped with several modified Spitfires armed with a single 20mm Hispano in each wing; to differentiate them from the standard 8 x .303 Spitfires they were called Spitfire Ib, while the standard model was redesignated Ia. The experiment was unsuccessful because the Hispanos kept on jamming, to the extent that 19 Sqn asked for and got some ex OTU Mk Ias - they were wrecks but the guns fired properly.

At about the same time all Spitfire and Hurricane de H 2 pitch propellers were modified to constant-speed units http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchi...0-%202888.html.