The Mark XVIII was to be the final Griffon-engined version developed from the original Spitfire airframe. In total 99 fighters (F.XVIII) and 201 fighter-reconnaissance aircraft (FR.XVIII) were built. The Mark XVIII, intented to supersede the Mark XIV, was externally almost identical to late-production of the latter. The most significant difference was the E-wing on the Mark XVIII.
The FR.XVIII had the provision for an obliquely mounted F24 camera in the rear fuselage in place of one of the 33 Imp gallon fuel tanks. A pair of vertically mounted 20in F24s could be carried, or, alternatively a single F52.
The other camera position (for an oblique 14 inch F24) had a window located just aft of the canopy on both sides of the fuselage.

There was no specific XVIII prototype. The first production Spitfire FR.XVIII, SM843, made her first flight on 6 July, 1945.

The first operational FR.XVIIIs were sent to the Far East but were too late to see service against the Japanese. The Spitfire FR.XVIII eventually went to war during the Malayan emergency, with No.28 and 60 Squadron, RAF.
In a somewhat more complex position were the FR.XVIIIs of No.32 and 208 Squadron, RAF, in the Middle East, finding themselves between the Egyptian and Israeli air forces.