Could the Queen Elizabeth class have reached 27 knots and the Revenge class 24 knots if the Royal Navy were more adventurous in 1911?
Short answerYes, the machinery and design path existed, but the result would be larger ships and a sharper international naval arms race.
NotesThe discussion treats the historical Queen Elizabeth class as conservative relative to the designs that might have been pursued in 1911. The proposed alternative has triple 16.5-inch guns, small-tube oil-fired boilers, better armor coverage, and a speed of 27 or 28 knots. Its displacement rises from roughly 27,500 to 33,500 tons. A 24-knot Revenge class is also considered possible under a more ambitious policy. Other navies would react: one suggestion is an American high-velocity or heavier-shell 16-inch weapon, while the opposing view expects pressure to adopt 18-inch guns despite American reservations about them.