Throughout production, designs were altered to improve the plane and by the end of the war, they were armed with up to eight machine guns with 300 rounds each.
Without the Spitfire, the British may not have been able to defend the island as RAF fighters in these planes were crucial to denying the Germans entry into their country. The iconic semi-elliptical wings were an important feature that allowed for thin construction and efficient aerodynamics.
While the design of the Spitfire is striking, it is all about flying and the Spitfire is an adept flier with excellent maneuverability that presented stiff competition against the incoming German fighters over the English Channel. In early versions of this aircraft, the Merlin produced 1,175 horsepower, but that would be increased to more than 2,000 by the end of the war. Unlike the radial engines used in the American Hellcat, the Spitfire is powered by a Rolls-Royce V12 Merlin engine.
