Oil fuel and Britain's dependence on overseas supplies

Churchill initially favoured domestic coal before backing the move to oil in 1911 and 1912. His later interest in making lubricants from coal is presented as another attempt to retain strategic autonomy. Oil offered denser energy storage, easier loading and advantages in operating range and speed. The boiler discussion stresses more predictable combustion and soot management rather than treating oil as simply clean. Fisher's panel approached the choice through the performance of the ships, including the Queen Elizabeth class. Overseas supplies from North America and the Middle East created a strategic dependency that domestic coal had avoided. The decision also widened Britain's interest in the Middle East beyond the route through the Suez Canal.