Integrated yards could exchange engines to meet deadlines

How much of a warship did major British yards make themselves, and what components did they buy?

They were integrated industrial complexes that could make most components, including engines, while still buying from specialists or cooperating with nearby yards when useful.

Harland and Wolff and neighbouring Workman, Clark were industrial complexes capable of building engines and many other ship components rather than merely assembling purchased parts. Each could still buy specialist items when useful, but substantial production remained inside the yards. On one occasion the firms were delayed on different engine types needed for separate ships. By exchanging an engine each yard had ahead of schedule, both could meet their delivery dates and recover the lagging work later. Proximity, broad skills, and cooperation within a dense local industrial system could solve production bottlenecks.