[Gandalf_The_Gray]

Did the British ever build an engine that performed up to standards...?

I believe the P-51 (WWII) started out w/ a Rolls Royce V12 until we got the Allison into production. They were also in on the ground floor with turbo jet engines. They also proved that burying jet engines inside the wings was not such a great idea...

Regards,
GtG

[hattend]

I believe the P-51 (WWII) started out w/ a Rolls Royce V12 until we got the Allison into production.

Other way around.