Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:00:40-1:01:02

Internal machinery makes the Dreadnought leap larger than its silhouette

The Hawkins-to-County change was major, but Dreadnought's machinery and internal arrangements make her break from Lord Nelson at least as significant.

County Class CruisersHawkins Class Heavy CruisersHMS DreadnoughtLord Nelson Class BattleshipsNaval PropulsionWarship Design
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Question

Was the change from Hawkins to County greater than the change from Lord Nelson to Dreadnought?

Short answer

No; it was comparable, but Dreadnought's machinery and internal changes make her break at least as important.

Notes

A visual comparison can make the cruiser transition appear more dramatic because County looks so unlike Hawkins. Silhouettes do not capture the whole design change. Dreadnought's engines and internal organization separate her sharply from the Lord Nelson class even where external differences appear less striking. Evaluating generations of warships therefore requires machinery, layout, and fighting system evidence as well as profile drawings.