PerAspera,
As an aside, just what was so wrong with the Bristol Hercules on the Stirling?
Those fine engines had quite a few advantages over the RR Merlin and could have been developed, even then, to give the required altitude performance.
Reducing the wingspan was the big mistake which sadly sealed its fate as the 'also-ran' of the big three.
Perhaps the Air Ministry were 'out to lunch' when they briefed Shorts.