Cold steam plants needed hours to raise power

How long did it take to start a ship's steam plant from cold and become ready to move?

It varied by era, but a cold Second World War destroyer might need a couple of hours; rushing the process could damage the machinery.

Startup time varied greatly by period and machinery, but a genuinely cold steam plant required hours rather than instant power. A Second World War destroyer might need roughly a couple of hours. Crews could force the process faster, although doing so risked machinery damage. Readiness therefore depended partly on how much wear a navy was willing to accept.