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Probably the Merlin is best remembered as the powerplant of the legendary Supermarine Spitfire. The Merlin doubled its power output during the War with later versions producing up to 2,000hp using 150-grade fuel and increased supercharger boost. Using this combination the Spitfire IX was able to routinely operate at altitudes of over 45,000ft
WWII Fighter Engine Competition
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While the British and German fighters of the Second World War were struggling for supremacy in the air, another battle was being fought out by the engine manufacturers. Each side was striving to keep its piston-engined fighters in the lead before the advent of jet aircraft. Two authors, one British and one German, describe this battle of the engineers.
Fighter Engine Competition in World War II Part I – A Boost for the Merlin
At around 22. 00 hours, in the long evening shadows on 25 May 1943, a force of about 15 Fw190 fighter bombers slipped across the English Channel at low level for a hit-and-run raid on Folkestone.
The Fw 190 had established itself as a great fighter aircraft and the leader of the attack was probably feeling very confident. Close to the sea his only worry came from the speed of the Hawker Typhoons then beginning to overcome their teething problems. The far more numerous Spitfire Vs could be outrun and outclimbed. At high altitude, a new mark of Spitfire was providing a very dangerous opponent, but at low level and in the rapidly fading light a successful interception would not be easy.
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