The Orion class had a nominal design speed of 21 knots. The discussion cites all four ships as exceeding that figure on trials, reaching roughly 22 knots and a little more. That margin matters when a counterfactual assumes 23-knot Orions and faster battlecruisers. The eventual explanation for the larger hypothetical speed increase is an earlier move to small-tube boilers. Trial performance and a proposed propulsion change are separate parts of the comparison.
Notable Point · 4:20:45-4:22:57
Orion trial speeds and an earlier boiler change
The Orions' trial speeds already exceeded their nominal 21 knots; the counterfactual's further increase is linked to earlier small-tube boilers.