A skilled engineer could judge steam plant by sound, pressure, and experience, making familiar machinery especially valuable during rapid expansion. Wartime technology does not always advance as far as expected because mass mobilization rewards equipment people already understand. A less advanced system used confidently can contribute sooner than a technically superior system surrounded by uncertainty and lengthy conversion training. The same logic may apply to contemporary drones, where familiar equipment can yield more immediate value than a more capable system operators do not yet trust.
Notable Point · 24:28-25:58
Familiar machinery accelerated wartime mobilization
Equipment close to civilian practice let experienced engineers enter service quickly and extract performance without years of retraining.