How would reliable British high-pressure steam plants by 1934 affect ship designs and refits?
Short answerThey would enter the fleet before the 1936 design lock-in, improving most new ships and major refits with faster, more efficient machinery.
NotesThe decisive issue is having a boiler ready before a navy freezes designs and production plans. Britain historically made many mobilization choices around 1936, while its high-pressure work matured closer to 1938. Moving reliable plants to 1934 lets training, factories, and ship designs standardize on the improved machinery before rearmament accelerates. Ark Royal, the Tribals, the King George V class, and later rebuilds could all benefit, potentially producing a faster and more efficient wartime fleet and even a substantially faster Warspite.