The Clyde used a two-shaft design, with an axial compressor based on that of the Metrovick F.2[4][5] for the low-pressure section, and a single-sided centrifugal compressor scaled up from the Merlin 46 supercharger[6] as the high-pressure stage, both mounted on the HP shaft and driven by a single stage HP turbine.

A single stage power turbine drove the front mounted propeller reduction gearbox via the concentric LP shaft.

A fairly novel feature of this compact gearbox was the power output to contra-rotating propellers.

[5][1] During testing potentially destructive vibrations were found originating in the straight-cut spur gears in the reduction gearbox.

[2] However, despite the promising performance of the test engines Ernest Hives felt that pure-jets such as the Avon were the future and the Clyde programme was terminated, forcing Westland to use the less than satisfactory Armstrong Siddeley Python on the production Wyverns.