The Griffon 101, 121, and 130 series engines, collectively designated Pilots who converted from the Merlin to the Griffon-engined Spitfires soon discovered that, because the Griffon engine's propeller rotated in the opposite direction to that of the Merlin, the fighter swung to the right on takeoff rather than to the left.Some test Spitfire XIVs, 21s, and 24s were fitted with The Griffon was produced in approximately 50 different variants, the The Griffon engine continues to be used in restored Fireflies and later mark Spitfires worldwide. Starting in early 1945 most Spitfire Mk XIVs also used clipped wingtips, mainly in an effort to reduce wrinkling of the wing's skin; again the LF prefix was not applied to these aircraft. To avoid the expansion of fuel in hot weather damaging the wing, pressure relief valves, incorporating small external vent pipes, were fitted near the wing tips.Structurally unchanged from the C wing. At first the Mk 21 displayed poor flight qualities that damaged the otherwise excellent Spitfire reputation. These remarkable increases in performance arose chiefly from the introduction of the Rolls-Royce Griffon engine in place of the famous Merlin of earlier variants. The aircraft also served successfully in the fighter-bomber role, being capable of carrying 1 × 500 lb (230 kg) and 2 × 250 lb (110 kg) bombs, with rocket-projectile launch rails fitted as standard. It was hoped that this would improve the pilot's view over the nose in flight and increase the high speed and dive performance of the aircraft. The last Mk 24 to be built was delivered in February 1948. The Griffon 60, 70, and 80 series featured two-stage supercharging and achieved their maximum power at low to medium altitudes. It was built up until early 1946 but it was not until January 1947, that an RAF squadron, Spitfire Mk 19 (PS583) shows its elliptical wing planformThe Mk XIX was the last and most successful photographic reconnaissance variant of the Spitfire. Mk XIIs were manufactured from Mk VC and Mk VIII airframes: early production aircraft had the fixed tail wheels, The single-stage Griffon engine (II or IV) gave the aircraft superb low and medium level performance, although the Mk XII's performance declined at higher altitudes: because of this all production aircraft had "clipped" wings.

Stronger main longerons were needed to cope with the weight of the Griffon and it required a bigger radiator and oil cooler, although it kept the asymmetric under-wing radiator layout of the single stage Merlin marks. Redesigned upper wing gun bay doors incorporated "teardrop" shaped blisters to clear the cannon feed motors, and the lower wings no longer had the gun bay heating vents outboard of the gunbays.These were specifically made for the Photo-Reconnaissance Spitfires, including the PR XIX; no armament was fitted and the "D" shaped leading edges of the wings, ahead of the main spar, were converted into integral fuel tanks, each carrying 66 gallons. Like the Mk XIV there were fighter and fighter reconnaissance variants built. The The sole remaining technically airworthy Avro Shackleton is based at the Preserved Griffon engines are on public display at the: The first of 100 Supermarine-built production aircraft started appearing in October 1942; two RAF squadrons in total were equipped with the XII. This article describes the Griffon-powered Spitfire variants. Rated at 2,050 hp (1,530 kW), the 12-cylinder Vee liquid cooled Griffon 61 engine featured a two-stage supercharger, giving the Spitfire the exceptional performance at high altitude that had been sometimes lacking in early marks. Rolls-Royce engineers were already working on a new version of the Merlin incorporating a two-stage supercharger; the combination of the improved Merlin and the Spitfire Mk VC airframe in a "stop-gap" design allowed the RAF to combat the Fw 190 on equal terms. The inner gun bays allowed for two weapon fits;

In a second stream of de

Stronger undercarriage legs were raked 2 inches (5.08 cm) forward, making the Spitfire more stable on the ground and reducing the likelihood of the aircraft tipping onto its nose.The Hispano Mk IIs were now belt fed from box magazines allowing for 120 rpg (the "Chattellerault" system).

The larger diameter four spoke mainwheels were strengthened to cope with the greater weights; post-war these were replaced by wider, reinforced three spoke wheels to allow Spitfires to operate from hard concrete or asphalt runways.