Spitfire Mk XIV Wing Question

Can someone tell me what the short tubes are that are located alongside the
canon on each wing? I've looked through a few books that show them but lack
an explaination as to what they are.
Thanks,
Howard

On Fri, 19 Sep 2003 02:39:23 GMT, wrote:

Can someone tell me what the short tubes are that are located alongside the
canon on each wing? I've looked through a few books that show them but lack
an explaination as to what they are.

If you're talking about the "protuberences" standing pround of the
leading edge just beside the cannon muzzle, these were the fairings
for the second cannon position introduced with the Mk Vc wing. I
don't know why they weren't faired over, as in most cases they weren't
used until the outboard .303 MG positions were deleted and a .50 MG
mounted in that position in the E-wing. You can see them in photos of
Spit Vc's, IXc's and so forth, so if this is what you're referring to
they weren't unique to the Mk XIV.

Gavin Bailey
--

Another user rings. "I need more space" he says.
"Well, why not move to Texas?", I ask. - The ******* Operator From Hell

wrote in message ...
Can someone tell me what the short tubes are that are located alongside the
canon on each wing? I've looked through a few books that show them but lack
an explaination as to what they are.
Thanks,
Howard

They are covers for the ports for the .50 M2 guns which were carried
by some versions. The ports were there whether or not the guns were.

Tony Williams
Military gun and ammunition website: http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk
Military gun and ammunition discussion forum:
http://forums.delphiforums.com/autogun/messages/

In article ,
writes
Can someone tell me what the short tubes are that are located alongside the
canon on each wing? I've looked through a few books that show them but lack
an explaination as to what they are.
Thanks,
Howard
The wing of the later Spitfires could have a variety of armament
installed; 1 cannon + 2 machine guns, or two cannon. If just one
cannon was installed a streamlined fairing was placed over the unused
cannon port to stop that awful whistling noise...

Cheers,

Dave

--
Dave Eadsforth