Why warships moved from DC toward AC power

Why did earlier warships prefer DC, and how did the Royal Navy move toward AC?

DC was the established arrangement, while later destroyer classes tested combinations that made AC practical.

Direct current was the inherited shipboard system. The Battle and Daring classes then explored different combinations of current and machinery as alternating current became practical. The change involved far more than wiring. Power generation, gearing, fuel arrangements and repairability all competed for scarce hull space.