If a ship's boilers actually blew up, would the Royal Navy make sure that failure could never happen again?
Short answerA boiler explosion would probably bring hard questions for its manufacturer, because the machinery was supposed to retain a substantial safety margin.
NotesA boiler explosion would probably raise questions about the manufacturer's safety margin. A large margin allowed experienced engineers to push sound machinery beyond ordinary operating limits, provided they understood its condition. Captains obtained more by listening to engineers than by simply demanding additional speed. Dalrymple-Hamilton also benefited from an era when non-engineering officers helped with major engineering work. That experience supported his practical ability to run a force hard and keep it working.