 | ||
The Armstrong Siddeley Mamba was a British turboprop engine produced by Armstrong Siddeley in the late 1940s and 1950s, producing around 1,500 effective horsepower (1,100 kW).
Contents
- Design and development
- Variants and applications
- Engines on display
- Specifications ASM3
- General characteristics
- Components
- Performance
- References
Armstrong Siddeley gas turbine engines were named after snakes.
Design and development
The Mamba was a compact engine with a 10-stage axial compressor, six combustion chambers and a two-stage power turbine. The epicyclic reduction gearbox was incorporated in the propeller spinner. Engine starting was by cartridge. The Ministry of Supply designation was ASM (Armstrong Siddeley Mamba). The ASM.3 gave 1,475 ehp and the ASM.6 was rated at 1,770 ehp. A 500-hour test was undertaken in 1948 and the Mamba was the first turboprop engine to power the Douglas DC-3, when in 1949, a Dakota testbed was converted to take two Mambas.
The Mamba was also developed into the form of the Double Mamba, which was used to power the Fairey Gannet anti-submarine aircraft for the Royal Navy. This was essentially two Mambas lying side-by-side and driving contra-rotating propellers separately through a common gearbox.
A turbojet version of the Mamba was developed as the Armstrong Siddeley Adder, by removing the reduction gearbox.
Variants and applications
Engines on display
An Armstrong Siddeley Mamba is on static display at the Midland Air Museum, Coventry Airport, Warwickshire and at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford.
A Mamba is also on display at the Aviation Heritage Museum (Western Australia).
Specifications (ASM.3)
Data from Flight