IAF Spitfire LF Mk.IXe - The IAF’s Mk.IXe
- Yes.
- No.
This suggestion is for the IAF Spitfire LF Mk.IXe, an elliptical-wing variant of the Mk.9 Spitfire. Israel seemingly converted some prior Czech and Italian Spitfires into these or obtained them like this. Israeli Spitfires also used Israeli made 80mm rockets, found ingame, making them even more unique. This vehicle would be functionally identical to the premium Black “Weizman’s Spitfire Mk.IXe”, without his name’s association, black camouflage, and the reward multipliers as well as the ability to have a rounded vertical stabilizer tip instead of the pointed one. (I personally suggest this vehicle sits at ~6.0 as a researchable option for the Israeli Air Tree, as it has no such options ingame.)
- 5.7
- 6.0
- 6.3
- I Voted No.
- As a Researchable vehicle
- As a Squadron vehicle
- As a Premium vehicle
- As a Event vehicle
- I Voted No.
History:
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Israeli Air Force Spitfires lined up at a runway. Note Elliptical E-Winged Spitfiee No.56 parked in the background.
The IAF used the Spitfire Mk.9 series for many years, and first acquired their initial Spitfires through cobbling together leftover British scraps from junkyards and the scavenging usable materials from downed enemy Spitfires. This was notably the basis for Spitfires D.130 and D.131.
A scavenged PR Spitfire in an abandoned British junkyard, presumed to have become the basis for their second Spitfire.
Following this, the Israelis then set out to procure 50 more Spitfire LF Mk.IXs from Czechoslovakia through project Velveta I and II. From Velveta I, 3 of an initial delivery of 5 made it to Israel in September of 1948, and 2 more which were impounded in Greece but made it in mid-1950.
Velveta I Spitfires preparing for the last flight of their journey to Israel. They were not marked with any IAF markings yet, and were fitted with two underwing drop tanks and an underbelly conformal fuel tank.
From Velveta II, 10 of an initial delivery of 15 made it to Israel in December, but 2 crashed in a snowstorm and 2 more which suffered mechanical issues were disassembled and flown to Israel by C-46 in late December. These aircraft turned the tide of the War of Independence heavily, allowing the newly formed IDFAF to achieve Air Superiority in the southwest in the Negev. Following the last ceasefire of the war, the remaining Spitfires from the Czechs arrived in 3 shipments, bringing the total to roughly 50 at a given time, but a total of 61 appear to have been received overall (this includes 2 used as spare parts).
A Spitfire from Velveta II preparing for its trip. Note the front of the conformal belly mounted fuel tank is visible, alongside its two German origin drop tanks.
To account for losses sustained in the war, the IAF purchased an additional 30 Spitfire LF Mk.IXs and spare parts from Italy and 2 additional Merlin-66 engines. These began to arrive in April 1951, of which all had been delivered by early 1953. Elliptical E-wing aircraft were obtained from both the later deliveries from Czechoslovakia and the Italian deal.
Elliptical E-wing Spitfires No.69 & No.71 parked on a runway.
Of note from the acquired Spitfires, I’ve identified the airframes IAF No.22, No.49, No.56, No.58, No.69, No.71, & No.79 as airframes of interest for this suggestion. All of these aircraft at one point or another, were seen with an elliptical universal E-wing configuration. There may be more I might have missed.
Elliptical E-wing IAF Spitfire seen close up from the front.
Most IAF Spitfires used a universal E-wing configuration, like is already seen ingame on the clipped wing TT variant and premium variant ingame. There could be more examples of IAF Spitfires in this configuration that I’ve missed. No.57 was infamously turned into an elliptical winged spitfire and painted black, it’s already seen ingame as a premium variant with the namesake of its owner tied to it (although it was never an E-wing, a conversation/bug-report for another time)
Elliptical E-wing Spitfire No.58 parked in the background. Viable as a skin for the existing premium as it has a pointed tail tip, not a rounded one.
In Short:
The Spitfire LF Mk.IXe is an Elliptical winged spitfire with an elliptical E-wing, nearly identical to the existing Weizman’s Spitfire premium. However, this would allow for another version to be added for the Researchable Section of the Tech Tree that could be without a pointed stabilizer, and not be connected in appearance or name to Weizman. Currently, there are no researchable elliptical-winged spitfires, making this aircraft a much needed and desired addition to give the Tree a 6.0 option for those unable to afford the premium. Aside from a different set of camouflage options and a different damage/visual model for the vertical stabilizer, it would be no functionally different from the existing premium version, only visibly (unless someone has materials for the precise weight and drag differences between the stabilizers).
Specifications:
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Operating Country: Israel
Type: Fighter Aircraft
Crew: 1 Pilot
Wingspan: ~11.3m
Length: ~9.1m
Height: ~3.9m
Powerplant: Rolls-Royce Merlin-66
Power Outputs: ~1,330hp on max throttle, and ~1,700hp on War Engine Power
Climb Rate: ~31.8m/s
Max speed: ~690km/h
Service Ceiling: ~13km
Range: ~250mi (without drop tanks)
Empty Weight: ~2,309kg
Fully Loaded: ~3,354kg
Armament:
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- 2x 20mm Hispano cannons. They have 135 rounds each, 270 rounds of ammunition in total.
- 2x 12.7mm/.50 caliber M2 Browning Machine Guns. They have 285 rounds each, 570 rounds of ammunition in total.
- Up to 16x 8-cm Flz.-Rakete Oerlikon HE/HEAT rockets (later license produced by TA’AS).
- Up to 2x 250lb AN-M57 Bombs.
Missing Weaponry:
- Up to 2x Underwing Drop Tanks with a capacity of 300 gallons.
- Up to 1x Underbelly Conformal Fuel Tank with a capacity of 90 gallons.
Sources:
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“Spitfire Mk.IX in the Israeli Air Force Service 1948-1956” by Alex Yofe, published January 1st, 2005. ISBN 10: 0977462706, ISBN-13: 978-0977462704.
Israeli Air Force 1948-49 – Mike's Research
Supermarine Spitfire | Classic Warbirds
Supermarine Spitfire - Wikipedia
Supermarine Spitfire (late Merlin-powered variants) - Wikipedia
Specifications and Features of the Spitfire Mk.IX series acknowledged and implemented into the game by Gaijin Entertainment.
Thank you for taking the time to read my Third Israeli Spitfire suggestion! I hope y’all have a wonderfully blessed day and I’ll see ya in my next suggestion!