Why was the Griffon designed to rotate the other way? Anyone know? I’ve heard it said that the navy wanted a high performance engine that wouldn’t torque-roll an aircraft into a carrier island, so it was factored into R-R design from the start. Is this true? Doubt it though, there were plenty of Merlin Seafires weren’t they.

I saw a TV-program about Ark Royal and Bismark. I noticed that the island is on the starboard side. Aircraft with a Griffon engine driving a single propeller which rotates anti clock-wise seen from behind, will induce a torque-roll which is clock-wise, towards the starboard side of the carrier. The slipstream will yaw the aircraft towards the starboard side of the carrier.

Was there a design change on which side the island was located? If not, the Merlin will induce the opposite torque-roll and yaw compared to the Griffon, away from the island.

Am I missing something? If not, my vote is for “not true”!