Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:00:04-1:00:24

Why small-tube boilers would not make pre-dreadnoughts dramatically faster

Better boilers might raise British pre-dreadnoughts toward 19 or 20 knots, but their hulls and engines would limit further gains.

Mediterranean SeaNaval PropulsionPre-DreadnoughtsSmall Tube Boilers
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Question

What would small-tube boilers do for Royal Navy pre-dreadnoughts?

Short answer

They might reach about 19 or 20 knots, but hull form and the rest of the machinery would prevent a much larger gain.

Notes

Improved steam generation would not amount to a complete propulsion replacement. Pre-dreadnought hull forms were not designed for a large increase in speed, and their existing machinery still had to convert steam into useful power. A modest rise to roughly 19 or 20 knots is therefore more plausible. Even that improvement could matter in confined theatres such as the Mediterranean, where a few knots might make older ships more useful.