Q&A ยท 2:13:42-2:14:40

When could early gas turbines have reached Hood?

Early gas turbines could reshape Nelson and Rodney at construction before reaching Hood in a more attractive 1930s reconstruction.

Question

If the Royal Navy had gas turbines in the 1920s, how soon would Hood receive them?

Short answer

Probably during a 1930s reconstruction, after Nelson and Rodney had been designed with them; the machinery savings could encourage faster modernisation.

Notes

In a scenario where marine gas turbines arrive in the 1920s, Nelson and Rodney are the first capital ships likely to be built around them. The machinery weight saving could permit a three-shaft arrangement and a design speed around 28 knots. Hood would probably receive the machinery during a 1930s reconstruction. The size of the qualitative improvement could also make it worthwhile to accelerate the wider modernisation programme.