One version offered to the Navy By John Deer as a replacement for the
Fairbanks Morse 38D81/8 opposed piston two cycle diesel for alternator
drives on
ships. 8 pieces on aircraft carriers. two pieces on each submarine.

Lynn E. Hanover



Is that the same design pictured? I read somewhere that Ingersoll Rand
bought the design for that compressor engine from John Deere. If so it's
remarkably small for a ship powerplant.

Everett

The engines were offered as prime movers for generator sets. Shipboard
electric power.

Altho I was told that the OPs on submarines could be clutched in to drive
the ship in the event of a failure of the electric motor that is the normal
prime mover for the ship.

That would be a last resort, as it would have you on the surface with about
2,000 HP and running for cover. Attack subs have only one, missile boats
have two.

_http://www.sdrm.org/roster/diesel/fm/index.html_


_http://www.tugboatenthusiastsociety.org/Pages/tugmach-diesel-modern-FM.htm_



The rotary looks like a toy compared to the size of the 38D8 1/8 and
probably had to be geared down to get output speeds as slow as the OP. But the
Navy said no to the project.

There is a whole world of experience to overcome to get rid of the OP. You
can buy one new today or buy any overhaul part you might need. It does the
job well. Its already on every ship we own and all over the world in
locomotives and providing electric power to remote villages, and thousands of
foreign flag ships.

It would take a world war and a Billy Mitchell to get the OPs out and the
rotary into Navy ships.

Lynn E. Hanover