The initial divergence applies to ships whose construction or refit begins after the machinery becomes available. Vessels already too far into construction remain largely unchanged. Higher-pressure machinery offers each new project a choice among speed, range, protection, armament, and internal volume. Likely consequences include larger carrier air groups, a twelve-gun King George V layout, and drastic boiler-count reductions during C-class anti-aircraft cruiser conversions. The G-class destroyers, Ark Royal, later carrier refits, and the 1937 capital-ship programs all enter the new design sequence.
Chapter · 22:41-32:36
How the 1934 building program diverges
The new plant changes ships entering refit or construction from 1934 onward, from G-class destroyers and cruisers to Ark Royal, the Illustrious class, and King George V battleships.