The Royal Navy did not settle the propulsion question through a single tug-of-war or an assumption that newer machinery must win. Archimedes stimulated interest, while Rattler, Alecto, and other ships supported repeated comparisons of maneuverability, fuel consumption, efficiency, and range. Handmade engines varied enough that the service needed multiple trials rather than one clean laboratory result. The resulting preference for screws in deep-sea service formed part of the technical development that culminated in HMS Warrior.
Chapter · 14:56-16:19
Royal Navy trials made propulsion choice evidence-led
Rattler, Alecto, Archimedes, and repeated efficiency tests helped the Royal Navy choose screws for deep-sea warships.