Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 5:24:28-5:24:48

The Royal Navy's postwar shift from high-pressure steam

The Royal Navy continued studying high-pressure steam after the war, but gas turbines quickly offered another major propulsion path.

Gas TurbinesHigh Pressure SteamNaval PropulsionRoyal Navy
Watch at this timeFull video guide
Question

Did the Royal Navy continue investigating high-pressure steam after the Second World War?

Short answer

Yes, but gas turbines quickly became another major propulsion path.

Notes

The Royal Navy did investigate high-pressure steam after the Second World War. Several projects and published studies are mentioned without being identified individually. Gas-turbine research also began quickly. That competing propulsion path helps explain why continued interest in steam did not determine all subsequent naval machinery development.