Rolls-Royce Meteor
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The Rolls-Royce Meteor was a British tank engine developed from the Rolls-Royce Merlin aero-engine.
For tank use the Merlin had its supercharger removed and was de-rated to approx 600 bhp (447 kW). In addition, because weight-saving was not so important for a tank engine some of the Merlin's more expensive light-alloy components were replaced with cheaper components manufactured from steel.
Unlike previous British tank engines, e.g. the American Liberty L-12 license-built by Nuffield which was used in the Crusader, the engine was very lightly-stressed and reliable, while doubling the power available.
Previously, British tanks had been regarded as somewhat underpowered and unreliable, and the Meteor is considered to be the engine that for the first time gave British tanks ample, reliable, power.
The Meteor was used in the following vehicles:
