Tactics for Cliffs of Dover.

[Tacoma74]

Originally Posted by Triggaaar

Your points on the fuel system and superior diving match what I've read, but I'm not so sure about climb rates. Where are you getting the data from? According to wwiiaircraftperformance.org (and I have no idea how accurate it is, but a few here have pointed to it) the BoB Spits are faster than the 109s and climb at least as well:
http://www.spitfireperformance.com/spit1vrs109e.html
on that page the climb rate is shown as about the same for the standard MkI Spit, and I assume the 12lb boost model would be a lot better. Speed wise the standard Spit is slower at many altitudes, but at it's optimal altitude the Spit is faster. The 12lb boost Spit is faster than the 109s at all altitudes.

I'm not suggesting that information is definitive, feel free to post any other relevant information.

I've been doing a bit of reading and it seems you may be somewhat correct. The Spit MkI did outclimb the Bf-109E, but only above about 7,000 feet or so. But I stand firm with my claim of other advantages. The 109 just seems a better plane to me, but it takes alot of practice and getting used to.