Double Kestrel/Double Merlin: any merit in that?

[wuzak]

Wonder how much the bolded part is true (guess it's a typo, not 780 kW, but 780 HP?):

Quite possible. IIRC Lumsden has a rating of 720hp for the Kestrel XXX. Also note that the Kestrel XXX appears around the same time as the Peregrine, maybe evven later.

Care to elaborate a bit?

The Peregrine is often referred to as a "Merlinized" Kestrel.