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Re: Malta Spitfire question
Aircraft with the Merlin 46 are just considered as F variants rather than LF. The low-rated variants had an M suffix - 45M, 50M and 55M. There does not seem to have been a 46M - there was a 46N but I know nothing about it, other than it was not a low-rated engine.
I don't know the differences between the 45, 46, 50 and 55, for that matter.
The low-rated engines may have been inspired by the Jabos but were widely used as a way of lengthening the effective lifespan of the Mk.V, being very potent at low-level (the fastest climbing fighter of WW2, from sealevel) which is why the FAA standardised on them for the Seafire.
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