A viewer contrasts reactor power with the rest of a ship's propulsion machinery. Bainbridge and Truxtun inherited gearing or related components from conventionally powered designs, so their reactors did not automatically produce more shaft horsepower. The comment gives Truxtun about 15,000 shaft horsepower less than the related Belknap design and Bainbridge about 20,000 less than its conventional counterparts. Replacing the heat source does not remove limits in turbines, gearing, shafts, or hull design.
Notable Point · 27:11-27:35
Conventional machinery limited nuclear warship power
Bainbridge and Truxtun show why a nuclear heat source does not guarantee higher shaft horsepower when the rest of the propulsion train remains constrained.