Changing Southern Pride's boiler arrangement was a larger design task than lengthening the hull or strengthening the decks. The alternative marine boilers could be supplied in about sixteen weeks, while water-tube boilers would take at least seven months. Water-tube machinery offered commonality with other Royal Navy ships, but it also placed corvettes in competition with destroyers and cruisers for the same manufacturers. As war approached, dependence on that supply chain threatened to delay the escorts. The choice of standardized commercial machinery therefore reflected the urgency of getting ships into service.
Notable Point · 42:09-44:09
How boiler delivery times shaped the Flower design
A quoted sixteen-week supply time for alternative marine boilers helped justify moving away from water-tube equipment already demanded by larger warships.