At roughly 20,000 tons, Neptune retained a 21-knot speed while redistributing protection. Her belt ranged from eight to ten inches, giving up Dreadnought's eleven-inch maximum for substantially more eight-inch coverage. Bulkheads varied between five and eight inches, while the deck gained at least half an inch and reached three inches at its thickest. Barbettes and turrets were also thicker on average. Four-inch guns replaced the earlier three-pounder secondaries, and the torpedo battery lost two tubes. Eighteen Yarrow boilers supplied 25,000 shaft horsepower.
Notable Point · 3:41-5:31
Neptune trades maximum armor for broader protection
Neptune spreads heavier protection across more of the hull, replaces three-pounders with four-inch secondary guns, and reaches 21 knots with 25,000 shaft horsepower.