Why did the Germans use inverted V12s so frequently? If there were advantages to that design, why did Allison, Rolls Royce and Packard all go with upright V12s for their various engines in WW2? That’s the topic for discussion in this video.
We get a bit off the topic here going into PT boat and tank engines. This isn’t a tank video, but some explanation of the reasons the US didn’t initially go with heavy tanks, and thus didn’t need the Allison V-1710 in a tank needed to be explained. Anyway, I hope you guys like the video.
I know my comment about the US Army intentionally slowing down to allow the Soviets to reach Berlin first per the Yalta agreement is going to come up in the comments, so here is a source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_to…
Updates, a lot of planes had guns mounted on the cowling way before the Germans started using inverted V-12’s. In fact the VAST majority of fighters from 1915-1940 were set up that way, regardless of engine type. The 109 wasn’t originally designed with gun firing through the prop hub, that was added to the design and was initially a machine gun. Hispano Suiza, and various Soviet engines were set up to fire through the prop hub as well, so I don’t see that as being a reason to use an inverted V-type engine.
Source: YouTube
The art of design compromise. Designing something that works well in a lot of places is better and more sustainable than designing something that is ideal for one specific small application.
Excellent video. Pro! Thanks.