Director of Naval Construction Philip Watts made practical improvements with advice from William Pakenham, John Jellicoe, and other officers. Their work operated within the strong political influence of Jacky Fisher, whose caution affected both layout and machinery choices. Dreadnought's contracting structure placed Vickers between the Navy and Parsons even though Parsons had turbine expertise and might have pursued a faster ship. At 21 knots, triple-expansion engines remained competitive, whereas a roughly 24-knot requirement would have displayed the turbine's advantage much more clearly. The design emerged through negotiation among constructors, operators, industrial suppliers, and senior naval leadership.
Notable Point · 18:27-20:59
Philip Watts and serving officers refined the Bellerophon design
The ships emerged from negotiation among the Director of Naval Construction, experienced officers, Fisher's preferences, and machinery firms rather than from one designer's isolated plan.