Q&A · 1:44:13-1:45:19

Would staff reform give the Queen Elizabeths small-tube boilers?

Political reform does not remove the contemporary reliability objection to small-tube boilers in the Queen Elizabeths.

Question

Would the new Admiralty push for small-tube boilers in the Queen Elizabeth class?

Short answer

Probably with the same result as historically: Jellicoe was advised that the boilers were not reliable enough, leaving the faster ship in this scenario as a separate 32-knot battlecruiser.

Notes

Lloyd George would have left the Admiralty before this design decision. Jellicoe's historical advice was that small-tube boilers were not yet reliable enough for the Queen Elizabeth class. The same advice could still prevent the desired 28-knot fast battleship in this timeline. The accompanying Tiger successor would instead provide at least 32 knots with 15-inch guns.