Supermarine Spitfire Mk XII
Supermarine · GB · first flew 1942 · fighter
The Mk XII was the first Griffon-powered Spitfire to enter service, optimised for low-altitude interception of Fw 190 tip-and-run raiders along the south coast.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, elliptical |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.65 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-stage Griffon engine with a shorter, broader nose compared with the long Merlin snout
- Clipped wingtips — the only mark produced exclusively with clipped wings
- Fixed (non-retractable) tail-wheel despite Griffon powerplant
The clipped wingtips are unique among production Griffon Spitfires — all other Griffon marks used standard or extended tips. The single-stage Griffon gives a shorter, rounder nose profile than the two-stage Griffon XIV. Fixed tail-wheel further distinguishes it from the Mk XIV.
Specifications
- The Supermarine Spitfire Mk XII has a length of 9.65 m (32 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.91 m (33 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 618 km/h (384 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Only 100 were built, serving solely with Nos. 41 and 91 Squadrons RAF from 1943. The single-stage Griffon III or IV gave excellent performance below 4,500 m. It was quickly superseded by the two-stage Mk XIV.
Variants
No production sub-variants. Preceded the Mk XIV; the interim Mk XX was a private-venture Griffon conversion that fed into the XII's development.
Where you'll see it
Operated only over southern England on home defence. No airworthy examples survive; a small number of static airframes are preserved in UK collections.
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