Belfast and Edinburgh might reach about 35-36 knots if eight early turbines raised output from roughly 82,500 to 120,000 shaft horsepower. That speed would make the cruisers particularly valuable for wartime interception, escort, and redeployment. Designers could spend some of the machinery savings on armor, range, or weapons if maximum speed was less important. A fleet-wide gas-turbine support system might also make the ships cheaper to modernize and keep in service after the war.
Chapter · 1:24:55-1:36:27
Faster Belfast and Edinburgh under treaty limits
Town-class cruisers become a test of whether turbine savings are spent on speed, armament, or longer useful service lives.