Mark Biegert
Recruit
- 9
- Nov 18, 2016
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Interesting - 5000 difference on Ford production numbers
Thanks for the help. If you find information on sourcing, please update this discussion.
Here is how I organized the data for the work I am doing.
View attachment 579000
Ford 1945 is in error should be 8500A typo?
I updated my post above to correct the typo and add some data I found from another source. The numbers are very similar.Ford 1945 is in error should be 8500
Thanks for the infoI updated my post above to correct the typo and add some data I found from another source. The numbers are very similar.
Your number seem to be more accurate than mine do you have the numbers for 36, 37 and 38? As well as Peregrine, Vulture and Griffon?(Edited to Reflect Comments Below)
Thanks for the help. If you find information on sourcing, please update this discussion.
Here is how I organized the data for the work I am doing.
View attachment 579010
I also found some alternate data that I will show below.
Sources: UK Data, Continental Number, Packard Numbers from US Munitions Production
View attachment 579009
Possibly switching production to two stage Merlin and Griffon?Interesting how Merlin production from Derby, Crewe and Glasgow peaked in 1943 and went down slightly in 1944. I would have expected production to increase. Were the factories maxed out or were they diverting to produce other engine types like the Griffon or turbines.
Both Derby and Crewe started producing Griffons in significant numbers in 1944. Glasgow didn't show a significant drop off as it was switching to two stage Merlins, a simpler change over.Possibly switching production to two stage Merlin and Griffon?
Well demand for the single stage Merlins didn't disappear overnight, they still had a lot of airframes being produced that used them, you can convert a Spitfire to accept the twin stage engine but you get a lot less Spitfires.Both Derby and Crewe started producing Griffons in significant numbers in 1944. Glasgow didn't show a significant drop off as it was switching to two stage Merlins, a simpler change over.
Note that while the Ford production line was organized on flow through principles for greater efficiency, it paid a price in flexibility. Due to the difficulty in changing over it only produced single stage Merlins. In fact it continued to produce the original single piece block well after the other plants had switched to the two piece. I was surprised to learn that it produced its final Merlin XX in February 1944. Rolls Royce actually manufactured two piece bocks to modify late production Ford built engines to Merlin 22As.
Well demand for the single stage Merlins didn't disappear overnight, they still had a lot of airframes being produced that used them, you can convert a Spitfire to accept the twin stage engine but you get a lot less Spitfires.
I agree, but until you get all or most factories producing the two stage engines waiting for them and not producing whatever planes you can just means less planes. Spitfire Mk Vs were still being ordered in May 1942 and produced in July 1943.There were not enough 2-stage Merlins to go around, but the single-stage engines went on for a lot longer than expected partly because the Moquito was so fast, that it could remain competetive even on nearly obsolete engines, wheras the Spitfire really needed the 2-stg engines to stay competetive, that is directly from Air Ministry records.
Its similar to why the Hurricane got the Merlin XX with 2spd gearbox and the Spitfire didnt (although the manufacturing considerations were very significant too), but they realised that with only a few XX`s being made, it was a better investment to put them in Hurricanes than Spitfires, as the Hurricane was going to be totally obsolecent with a single-gear, single-stage engine, whereas the Spitfre could soldier on for longer on "last years engine model" for a while. (I personally think that was a mistake in hindsight... but anyway.. nevermind).