Ardpol AC-008 Liberty engine

Liberty L-12 is an American aircraft engine from World War I and the interwar period. Its first successful start was in 1917. Its production was the responsibility of such plants as Lincoln, Packard and Ford, and its total production exceeded 20,000 units. Liberty L-12 was 1.71 meters long, 0.686 meters wide and 1.054 meters high. Its capacity was 27.03 liters, and the weight of the "dry" engine of this type did not exceed 384 kilograms. The Liberty L-12 was a 12-cylinder in-line engine with V-shaped cylinders. It was capable of generating a maximum power of 449hp. The presented engine was created in connection with the accession to the First World War of the United States and the rapid development of their military aviation. Work on it was carried out at an express pace, because it began in May-June 1917, and a few months later the first successful start-up was made! At the same time, it was assumed from the beginning that the Liberty L-12 would be as simple as possible in design, easy to mass-produce, but in no way inferior to aircraft engines produced in Germany, France or Great Britain. These provisions were largely implemented, resulting in a successful aircraft engine, and after modifications - also a tank engine. The Liberty L-12 engine was used in such aircraft as Airco DH.4, DH.9A and DH.10, Curtiss H-16 or Felixstowe F5L. At the beginning of World War II, the British Nuffield plant, which had the license rights to the Liberty L-12, significantly modified it, making it a power unit for tanks such as the Cruiser A13 Mk. III.