A metal supported solid oxide fuel cell unit comprising: a) a metal substrate defining first and second opposed surfaces , wherein at least one solid oxide fuel cell is disposed on said second surface of said metal substrate ; b) a metal spacer , which defines first and second opposed surfaces , said metal spacer comprising: (i) an external perimeter , (ii) an at least one fuel inlet internal perimeter defining a fuel inlet port , (iii) at least one cut-out internal perimeter defining a cut-out , and (iv) at least one fuel outlet internal perimeter defining a fuel outlet port , wherein said first surface of said metal substrate is attached to said second surface of said metal spacer ; and c) a metal interconnect plate which defines first and second opposed surfaces , said second surface of said metal interconnect plate sealingly attached to said first surface of said metal spacer , wherein: a fuel inlet port volume is defined between said first surface of said metal substrate , each at least one fuel inlet internal perimeter of said metal spacer , and said second surface of said metal interconnect plate , a cut-out volume is defined between said first surface of said metal substrate , said at least one cut-out internal perimeter of said metal spacer , and said second surface of said metal interconnect plate , and a fuel outlet port volume is defined between said first surface of said metal substrate , each at least one fuel outlet internal perimeter of said metal spacer , and said second surface of said metal interconnect plate , wherein said metal interconnect plate comprises a plurality of bridge portions acting as fluid flow bridges or channels between adjacent ones of the above three volumes , at least one of the bridge portions defining a fluid flow path from said at least one fuel inlet port volume to said at least one cut-out volume and at least a second one of the bridge portions defining a fluid flow path from said at least one cut-out volume to said at least one fuel outlet port volume . a) a metal substrate defining first and second opposed surfaces , wherein at least one solid oxide fuel cell is disposed on said second surface of said metal substrate ; b) a metal spacer , which defines first and second opposed surfaces , said metal spacer comprising: (i) an external perimeter , (ii) an at least one fuel inlet internal perimeter defining a fuel inlet port , (iii) at least one cut-out internal perimeter defining a cut-out , and (iv) at least one fuel outlet internal perimeter defining a fuel outlet port , wherein said first surface of said metal substrate is attached to said second surface of said metal spacer ; and (i) an external perimeter , (ii) an at least one fuel inlet internal perimeter defining a fuel inlet port , (iii) at least one cut-out internal perimeter defining a cut-out , and (iv) at least one fuel outlet internal perimeter defining a fuel outlet port , c) a metal interconnect plate which defines first and second opposed surfaces , said second surface of said metal interconnect plate sealingly attached to said first surface of said metal spacer , a fuel inlet port volume is defined between said first surface of said metal substrate , each at least one fuel inlet internal perimeter of said metal spacer , and said second surface of said metal interconnect plate , a cut-out volume is defined between said first surface of said metal substrate , said at least one cut-out internal perimeter of said metal spacer , and said second surface of said metal interconnect plate , and a fuel outlet port volume is defined between said first surface of said metal substrate , each at least one fuel outlet internal perimeter of said metal spacer , and said second surface of said metal interconnect plate , <EOS>