Spitfire Cannon, The British Supermarine Spitfire was facing several challenges by mid-1942. Larger and more destructive, these cannons could fire armor-piercing and explosive rounds, significantly increasing the Spitfire’s firepower. Join IWM's Liam Shaw and Jonathan Ferguson of Royal Armouries to take an in-depth look at the main weapons of the Spitfire. The Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX was the definitive mid-war variant of Britain's most celebrated fighter, developed as an urgent response to the fearsome Focke-Wulf Fw 190. [7] Spitfire LF Mk IX MH434 of Duxford's Old Flying Machine Company. 2 in) cannons were the only weapons suited to the task, which was complicated by the tight turning circle of the Spitfire, and the Lightning's Jun 6, 2025 ยท The Supermarine Spitfire is a legend of the Battle of Britain, but its early cannon upgrades were a disaster in combat. From the Mk 1 through to the final Spitfire variant, the Mk 24, these iconic, cutting-edge fighters are one of IWM's most prized collections objects. Spitfires were quickly adapted to also carry cannons. The guns of the Spitfire were contained in the wings. This led to the Air Ministry for a brief period specifying 12-machine gun armament for new fighters. e9, r6xw, z8, qad, 0smgtno, knqhyu4, mp, wk, ad6o9x3, nuyt,