Q&A ยท 49:54-53:45

How small-tube boilers could transform the Revenge class

Contemporary small-tube oil-fired boilers could have more than doubled the Revenge class's machinery output without requiring more boiler rooms.

Question

What power and speed might the Revenge class have achieved with oil-fired small-tube boilers?

Short answer

Around 90,000 shaft horsepower was plausible, potentially producing roughly 24 to 26 knots with appropriate turbines and hull work.

Notes

The historical ships made roughly 40,000 shaft horsepower from eighteen boilers, far below the 75,000 horsepower of the Queen Elizabeth class. Courageous showed that eighteen newer small-tube oil-fired units could support about 90,000 horsepower while taking less weight and space. Suitable turbines could therefore move the Revenge class into roughly the 24-to-26-knot range without adding boiler rooms. The proposal requires turbine sets able to use the greater steam supply.