The Bristol Hercules engines were amongst the quietest in use at the period, especially when compared to the loud roar made by the Rolls Royce Merlin… —and the Beaufighter could use its low level speed to make sudden surprise attacks against Japanese supply depots in the Burmese jungle, then disappear as quickly as it came. ...
The Bristol Centaurus is a sleeve valve radial, and a very good one. This historically significant engine also features a two-stage supercharger and fuel injection. The Centaurus engine was used in WWII British Fighters and later in post war commercial prop driven airliners. ...