Rolls Royce Merlin

The Rolls Royce Merlin, originally known as the PV12, was designed in 1933 as a private venture successor to the Kestrel intended to give 1000 hp. The engine went through several redesigns before entering service in 1936 as the Merlin I for the Fairey Battle and the Hawker Hurricane, this was followed by the Merlin II for the Hurricane and the Merlin III for the Spitfire I. Many wartime aircraft were developed to use the Merlin and it was produced in large numbers by Packard in the United States. Development of the Merlin continued until well after the end of the war. Three examples of the Merlin are on display.

The Merlin III was the engine in the Spitfire I, it produced 1000 hp and drove a two bladed fixed pitch airscrew. The engine on display is a sectioned example which has been lent by the Science Museum.

The Merlin XX was one of the second generation of Merlins which featured a greatly improved supercharger designed by Stanley Hooker, it was used on the Hurricane II. The example on display was recovered from the Solent.

The Merlin 35 is a post-war version used to power the Bolton-Paul Balliol trainer.

Aircraft powered by Merlin - Spitfire, Battle, Tudor, Hurricane, Lincoln, Lancaster, Mosquito, Fulmar, Halifax, Miles M.20, Henley, Beaufighter, Hotspur, Defiant, York, Wellington, Cierva Air Horse, Kittyhawk, Balliol, Barracuda, Athena, Canadair 4, Mustang, Whitley, Hornet

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