Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:59:51-2:00:16

A 28-knot Iron Duke rebuild

Removing a turret and installing small-tube boilers might raise Iron Duke toward 28 knots, but the bow would also need strengthening.

BoilersHMS Iron DukeNaval ArchitectureRoyal NavyShip ModernisationShip Propulsion
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Question

Could HMS Iron Duke reach 28 knots by trading a turret for more machinery?

Short answer

Possibly with small-tube boilers, but the conversion would also require strengthening the bow.

Notes

Removing a turret for extra machinery might turn Iron Duke into a 28-knot ship if the reconstruction used small-tube boilers. That speed estimate comes with a structural reservation. The bow would also need strengthening. The conversion would be a combined machinery-and-hull project rather than a simple boiler swap.