A proposed Nelson about fourteen metres longer would still be far shorter than Hood and usable within existing infrastructure. The added volume could support more boilers, a third shaft, and a machinery plant capable of moving the ship toward 28 or 29 knots. Reversing and raising the third turret could improve forward fire, although blast and elevation limits would remain. The Royal Navy had already used three-shaft arrangements, particularly in aircraft carriers, so the propulsion proposal was familiar British practice. With insulation, six-inch secondaries could sit near the boiler spaces and engage cruisers without wasting scarce 16-inch ammunition. This was a connected redesign of machinery, armament, and tactical role rather than a simple request for more speed.
Notable Point · 45:03-50:30
A faster three-shaft Nelson alternative
A lengthened Nelson with extra boilers, a third shaft, and revised turret geometry could have traded some concentrated protection for speed and wider forward fire.