i have been reading about a universal wing on the mk9 spitfire,2cannons and 2 50.cal m/guns.i have also heard of mk9 spits with 2 cannons and 4 .303m/guns.i know the mk9 was supposed to be a stop gap aircraft as well but any help would be very grateful.yours,4th wilts
i have been reading about a universal wing on the mk9 spitfire,2cannons and 2 50.cal m/guns.i have also heard of mk9 spits with 2 cannons and 4 .303m/guns.i know the mk9 was supposed to be a stop gap aircraft as well but any help would be very grateful.yours,4th wilts Wilts, My understanding of the universal wing is that its either 2 x 20mm Cannon drum magazine fed Olkeron or simaler and 4 .30 cal browning machine guns or 4 x 20mm Cannon Dont recall .50 cal browning being an option??? Kev
This can be a confusing subject.... The 'Universal' wing was in fact also known as the 'C-wing' and was introduced onto the Mk V Spitfire in October 1941. This wing could carry 2x20mm cannon plus 4x.303 Brownings ( the usual combination ), or 4x20mm cannon ( unpopular due to ammunition limitations).Another hardly-used option was 8x.303 Brownings. The unused 20mm cannon position was usually covered by a 'stub'. 2 x 250lb bombs could be carried outboard, or one 500-lb bomb on the centreline, of the 'Universal' wing. The early Mk IXs were based on the Mk V and used the same 'Universal' wing. In the Autumn of 1944 the 'E' wing was introduced which transposed the cannon and stub ( the cannon now being outboard ) and indeed, a .50 Browning was fitted in the stub with the .303s being deleted altogether.
