Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 53:51-54:10

How a speed governor could conceal reserve propulsion power

A follow-up on treaty-era diesel-electric design explores how oversized motors might be explained or physically limited during compliance.

Diesel Electric PropulsionElectric MotorsInterwar Naval TreatiesSpeed GovernorsTreaty ComplianceWarship Design
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Question

Could a navy disguise oversized electric motors by claiming they were inefficient while retaining greater power in reserve?

Short answer

Yes; it could offer such an explanation or install a governor that prevented the ship from reaching the higher speed.

Notes

The exchange continues the hypothetical 2,000-ton diesel-electric escort design. A viewer suggests explaining large motors as inefficient while quietly preserving more capability than advertised. A navy could construct such an explanation or use a governor to prevent the ship from demonstrating its full speed. This is a design-and-arms-control hypothetical, not a claim that a named navy historically used the method.