The Centaurus had a cylinder swept volume of 3,272 in³ (53.6 l), nearly as much as the American 54.9-litre Wright R-3350 "Duplex-Cyclone" large radial, making the Centaurus one of the largest aircraft piston engines to enter production, while that of the Hercules was 2,363 cubic inches (38.7 l). The nearly 40 percent higher capacity was achieved by increasing the stroke from and by changing to two rows of nine cylinders instead of two rows of seven. The diameter of the Centaurus was only just over 6 percent greater than the Hercules in spite of its much greater swept volume.