Is this an MTB engine?

[Ivor Ramsden]

I found this in a scrapyard in Malta whilst hunting for aircraft bits. Could it be from an MTB? I don't know owt about boats.

[berna2vm]

It would appear to be a Packard Merlin engine and they were fitted to Motor Torpedo Boats and Rescue boats.

[Johnny]

It would appear to be a Packard Merlin engine and they were fitted to Motor Torpedo Boats and Rescue boats.

 

And apparently one is in the BBMF Lancaster!

[berna2vm]

And countless P51 Mustangs!!!:-)

[robin craig]

Ask the nice man if it still has warranty on it if you buy it :nut: :cool2:

 

 

R

[Adrian Barrell]

It's a Packard but it is not a Merlin!

[steveo578]

looks like a 4M2500 W8 as fitted to Elco and Higgins pt boats although only half seems to be visible -I don't think they made a half engine version:-D.

[Ivor Ramsden]

looks like a 4M2500 W8 as fitted to Elco and Higgins pt boats although only half seems to be visible -I don't think they made a half engine version:-D.

 

The other half was buried. If it had been a Morris engine I'd have unearthed it with my bare hands!

[steveo578]

It would take more than bare hands to lift that lump out:-) wonder how it got there.

[morris c8 fat]

Dont kmow about that but im bidding on the morris engine on Evil bay hope its beter than the last one

[Degsy]

It would take more than bare hands to lift that lump out:-) wonder how it got there.

 

 

Quite a lot of PT boats were used in the Med, I assume it probably came from one of those.

[steveo578]

I was thinking that most british P/T boats would be types like Thornycofts (hopefully with British motors) I wouldn't have thought many US types such as Elcos and Higgins would be around- did the British/French receive any by Lend Lease I suppose it is possible PTGB could have been around as landing craft control vessels.

[Richard Farrant]

It could be from a RAF rescue boat, some of them were powered by Packard marine engines (not Merlin design).

[Degsy]

I was thinking that most british P/T boats would be types like Thornycofts (hopefully with British motors) I wouldn't have thought many US types such as Elcos and Higgins would be around- did the British/French receive any by Lend Lease I suppose it is possible PTGB could have been around as landing craft control vessels.

 

The British did receive both Elco and Higgins boats under lend lease but the Americans also operated PT boats in the Med under command of British Coastal Forces. Vosper designed boats were also built in America for the British and these would also have been fitted with Packard engines. The majority of the Elco's would have utilised the Merlin derived Packard as would the Vospers but some early experimental Elco's and Higgins were supplied and they may have been fitted with a different Packard engine but this is only supposition as the book I have consulted is not definitive on the early boats.

We really need CW and his expertise on this subject. I think perhaps Richard's idea on the RAF launches might be the answer to the origin of this engine.

[Ivor Ramsden]

My mate's dad served on MTB 408 in Malta. It was an American-built 72 foot Vosper vessel, built as PT-396 and fitted with Packards.

 

MTB408 is 3rd left in this photo taken in 1945 in Malta. It ended its days with the Italian Navy.

[morris c8 fat]

By the way went to see the engin today its post war spins freely and has lots of bits but i cant take on the work

[Scobello]

On 7/9/2010 at 9:02 AM, Ivor Ramsden said:

My mate's dad served on MTB 408 in Malta. It was an American-built 72 foot Vosper vessel, built as PT-396 and fitted with Packards.

 

MTB408 is 3rd left in this photo taken in 1945 in Malta. It ended its days with the Italian Navy.

 

Interesting picture, my grandfathers boat was MTB 410 - cant see his boat number in the picture, but I assume its the same flotilla.

[Scobello]

Found a picture of my grandfathers boat mtb 410

[Scobello]

Might be worth a read!

[john1950]

If it is a Packard V12 4m-2500 which it looks like, it is a 41.8 ltr beast. Packard Merlins V12s V-1650 engines were 27Ltr