For most people, an engine just gets us from A to B – and drinks expensive petrol. But one, the Rolls-Royce Merlin, may have been the difference between freedom and tyranny. Such is its lasting impact, it was celebrated on Sunday with the first ever Spitfires, Merlins and Motors event at Duxford – the Imperial War Museum’s aviation centre in Cambridgeshire.
Mike Evans, who founded the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust, believes the engine turned the tide of war. The Spitfire secured its place in history taking on the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain “Without the Merlin, we would not have won the Battle of Britain and Hitler may have crossed the channel,” he said. Designed in Derby, it powered a series of planes which between 1940 and 1945 halted, hammered and then crippled the forces of Nazi Germany. The Merlin had a rich heritage, developed from engines designed and used during World War I and the peacetime air speed competition, the Schneider Trophy.
Air supremacy
Receiving no government backing, Rolls-Royce built a prototype which by 1935 was producing more than 1,000 horsepower, 40% more than its predecessor the Kestrel. Nigel Rose, Spitfire Pilot: “I flew Kestrels in Harts and Hinds early on and you really noticed the difference in power [when using the Merlin].”And it was so dependable. I flew 900 hours in Spitfires during the war and never had any trouble at all.”All through the war the German planes, the Messerschmitts and so on, and British planes were stepping up each other in performance, manoeuvrability and speed.”The Merlin kept up, it was improved, it got more powerful.”
This performance led to it being adopted for the new generation of RAF fighters – just in time for Britain’s hour of greatest need in 1940.
Four Merlins helped the Lancaster bomber become one of the Allies main ways of striking at Nazi Germany
Leo McKinstry, author of books on the Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster, said: “By preventing the Luftwaffe from gaining air supremacy over southern England, the two legendary fighters destroyed the Reich’s hopes of mounting an invasion. “But these aircraft would never have achieved that success without the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. “Robust and supremely efficient, the Merlin gave the RAF’s fighters the power and performance they needed to defend our skies.”
Bombing losses
Proven in combat, demand for the Merlin grew. Production was expanded to factories in Crewe, Glasgow and Manchester – and eventually the US. Mr Evans said: “People had confidence in it and it went on and on being improved. “A lot of other manufacturers were shouting that they had the best thing since sliced bread saying ‘forget the Merlin, it is old hat’.
“It was, of course, the Merlin that powered the planes of the Dambusters Raid in May 1943, the greatest single RAF exploit of the war and one that symbolised Britain’s heroic fightback against Germany.”
False start
Even with the Lancaster, the RAF concentrated mainly on night attacks. Darkness protected the planes but made accurate bombing difficult. The United States Air Force decided on daylight attacks but some raids suffered losses of more than 20%. The answer was to protect the bombers with the sleek, silver Mustang fighter – but its impact was not instant.
“This created the most potent and successful long-range escort fighter of the war.” Using the Mustang, the fighting power of the Luftwaffe was broken in a matter of weeks.
‘Hope and Glory’
By the end of the war, and the emergence of the jet engine, about 150,000 Merlins had been built. It was used in 17 operational aircraft types. Mr Murton said: “The Merlin was fundamental to the success of the Allied air campaign. “If you think about the aircraft types that were fitted with the Merlin and were successful in particular because of their power plants, it was crucial.”
And its legacy continues, as Mr Evans explained: “It’s like Land of Hope and Glory, it’s part of who…
I guess one might say that the ‘Merlin’ engine influenced the gene pool of the World – much as did the voyaging dugout did for the Polynesian people!
I still get goose bumps when i hear a Merlin Engine flying over. Best sound ever..!!! FACT.
one thing i will never get tired of hearing is the ‘merlin’ whatever aircraft it may be in
The Merlin engine was one of the gamechangers of WWII.
funny how this guy thinks the spitfire won the Battle of Britain when it was the Hurricane
The Merlin engine went into the P51 which was the best fighter of WWII.