The comparison with the Iron Duke class turns speed into an engineering tradeoff. Queen Elizabeth's jump from 29,000 to 75,000 shaft horsepower raises the question of whether the extra knots justified the machinery burden. Their quoted cruising ranges and a rough broadside-weight rule also provide comparisons between eight 15-inch guns and twelve 13.5-inch guns. Claims for a fast battleship have to account for displacement, endurance, firepower, and the space consumed inside the hull.
Notable Point · 9:27-12:36
Speed bought through machinery weight
A comparison with the Iron Duke class asks whether the Queen Elizabeths gained enough speed for the machinery weight they carried.