New Ironsides displaced about 4,190 tons and made roughly seven knots from four boilers, two direct-acting steam engines, a single shaft, and 1,800 indicated horsepower. HMS Warrior had ten boilers and 5,772 indicated horsepower, which produced about fourteen knots. Doubling the speed required more than three times the power, along with the extra machinery, weight, and internal space that came with it. Warrior's complement of about 706 also exceeded New Ironsides' roughly 450 officers and enlisted men. The figures connect speed to machinery and manning, including the costs hidden behind a simple performance comparison.
Notable Point · 13:59-17:18
Speed, machinery, and the cost of performance
The figures for horsepower, speed, displacement, and crew show what each navy accepted to obtain the performance it needed.