From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Supply of Marine Merlin and auxiliary engines for Admiralty M.T.B.s and other craft.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 133\3\ scan0079 | |
| Date | 10th August 1939 guessed | |
| - 2 - MARINE ENGINES. On the assumption that the Wilson gearbox will be satisfactory they propose to order 24 Marine Merlins from us for their next year's requirements of M.T.B.'s. They would prefer that we supplied them with complete Marine units, i.e. we get the gearboxes direct from Wilson and sell the combined unit to the Admiralty. They require also that the gearbox and engine be tested together as a unit together with the following engine driven accessories :- Starter motor, generator, salt water pump and two gun-turret pumps plus water-cooled exhaust manifolds and a chassis for mounting the unit. In order to reduce battery sizes on the boats they have asked us to look into the application of the Coffman starter. AUXILIARY ENGINES. The Admiralty's requirement for auxiliary engines coupled into the main shafts is based on a comparison of their experience with the P.V.70 ft. boat and the latest Vosper boat with Isotta Fraschini engines. In the latter case Ford V 8's are used on the two wing engines for creeping-up-to-attack purposes at about 3 knots but they are not adequate for manoeuvring purposes. They are looking round for a suitable engine of about 150 HP. at 2500 r.p.m. for this purpose and they expect in the future to do all manoeuvring on these auxiliary engines and have only ahead clutches and ahead reduction gears for the main engines, all reversing being done on the auxiliaries. We have sent the Admiralty particulars of the B.80 engine suggesting that the power reserve on this engine will make it very reliable for marine use and that the Admiralty give us their complete specification for such an engine together with a contract for converting the B.80 to meet their requirements. Should this conversion be satisfactory there would be an immediate order for 12 engines ( and spares) for the six M.T.B.'s and the rating is such that the engine would find a large market as the main power unit of small Admiralty and Air Ministry craft. Wd.{Mr Wood/Mr Whitehead} | ||