High-pressure boiler production is the most plausible British bottleneck because boilers and turrets are long-lead components in fast capital ships. Britain's intelligence network would detect German speed quickly, and firms such as Vickers, Parsons, and John Brown could accelerate small-tube boiler development. A nominal 28-knot British ship gains too little over a 26.5-knot opponent to dictate range reliably in weather and service conditions. The Royal Navy therefore needs still more power, hull volume, and machinery capacity to obtain the roughly three-knot margin associated with tactical speed control.
Notable Point · 54:24-57:56
Boilers and speed margins drive the British response
A 26.5-knot German fast battleship pushes Britain toward small-tube boilers and ships faster than 28 knots to retain control of range.