Nuffield did not have a license for the Liberty, they produced a modified version
of the original, extensively modified by the time the Mk V version came about,
Morris (part of the Nuffield group of companies) switched to Meteor production
in 1943.
Anyhow the Liberty was chosen to power the new A13 Cruiser series on June 28, 1937
over the Thornycroft RY/12 60° V-12 marine engine and a modified version of the
Napier Lion W-12.
The first order for Nuffield Liberty Mk IIs (the Mk I were modified 1918 Liberties purchased
from the US), was let on January 28, 1939 (prep work went on throughout 1938) they were
used to power A13 Mk.IIs, production of this model was completed on January 10, 1940.
A15 development began in 1938 and continued into 1939, a contract for a pilot and 100
production vehicles was awarded on June 27, 1939, the pilot being delivered April 9, 1940,
production deliveries began early in 1941 and were completed by the fall.
The Meteor concept didn't come about until late 1940, no traction was gained until after a
meeting in March 1941, in May a contract was let to Leyland, who dragged their feet - they
really wanted their own diesel to be purchased, so the contract was cancelled on July 29, 1941.
Rolls-Royce Meadows continued with development, however by October 1941 only six
Meteor were in existence. The first production version wasn't under test until March 28, 1942.
Meadows, Rover and Morris combined had produced 1,490 engines by the end of February, 1943.
The timeline simply does not fit for Meteor powered A15s and the A15 was turned into a better
tank by development into the A24 Cavalier. Which in the end saw low production because the
A27 series was a better design, the A27L was Liberty powered the A27M being Meteor powered.
The engine bay was standardized around the Meteor so most A27L were converted to A27M once
enough Meteor were available.
Some 11,000+ Liberties of all Mks had been produced by the time production ended in 1943.
Robert J. Neal's A Technical & Operational History of the Liberty Engine: Tanks, Ships and
Aircraft 1917 - 1960 has an extensive section on the Nuffield Liberty and it's close interelation
with the Cruiser tanks, it also has detailed appendices on contracts and production numbers for
the tanks and which engine marks were used.