The experience of the high-flying Mk.Vs was such that a major effort was centred on a Rolls-Royce Merlin 60-powered version. This had the ability to take a crew of five inside the pressure shell. Rated at l,280hp (954.8kW), the Merlin 60 had a two-speed, two-stage supercharger and intercooler. This was the Mk.VI and the prototype, W5795, appeared in 1942. Up to March 1943 a total of 64 had been completed. It was hoped to put the type into operational service but this never materialised and the majority were delivered straight into storage and eventual scrapping. Like the Mk.Vs, the Mk.VIs had a remotely controlled four-gun rear turret. While the high-flying Mk.Vs and Mk.VIs may seem to have achieved little in direct terms, they advanced the knowledge of pressure shells considerably, helping the entire UK aircraft industry. Vickers used its experience in the post-war Valiant V-bomber and the incredibly successful Viscount turboprop airliner.
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