Why Deltic diesels are a poor fit for an ekranoplan

Could the Royal Navy have studied a Napier Deltic-powered ekranoplan?

The proposed craft lacks a convincing role and enough engine power; concerns about variable loads add another unresolved objection.

The proposed ekranoplan is rejected as an unnecessary demand on limited naval funding. The Napier Deltic is an opposed-piston, two-stroke diesel arranged in a delta configuration, initially associated with torpedo boats and later with Class 55 locomotives. Its quoted output of about 2,500 horsepower is considered inadequate for the proposed ground-effect craft. Variable and negative-g loads are also raised as possible problems, although the exchange does not resolve exactly which loads an ekranoplan would impose. The main objections are insufficient power and the absence of a convincing operational reason to fund the vehicle.