Military engines are built differently than the powerplants available to us civilians. It is critical that both gas and diesel military engines have maximum output and reliability and, in some cases, a minimum footprint. But military technicians are comfortably swapping and rebuilding these engines whenever necessary. As a result, some of these engines are so “turned up” that their lifespan is measured in hours. So you may not be shocked to hear that Cummins is building a 1,000-horsepower “Advanced Combat Engine” (ACE) for the next generation of Army tanks. But you will probably be surprised to find out it has a supercharger, turbocharger, and only four cylinders. Why? Because the ACE leverages a distinct design with two pistons in each cylinder.
Opposed piston engines, just like their name would suggest, have two pistons in each cylinder. These pistons are connected to separate crankshafts and travel towards one another to create compression.
