Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:06:10-1:06:50

Speed limits of a stretched Scharnhorst design

A high-power Scharnhorst variant shows why shafts, hull form, and weight distribution matter alongside headline horsepower.

BattleshipsNaval PropulsionScharnhorst Class BattleshipsShip Design
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Question

How fast could a 270-metre Scharnhorst with about 249,000 horsepower run on trials?

Short answer

Perhaps 33-36 knots, but only with a four-shaft layout and a hull form able to use the power safely.

Notes

Putting roughly 249,000 horsepower into a 270-metre hull would also require a fourth shaft to transmit the power without overstressing the machinery. Once the added shaft and its effect on hull and weight distribution are included, a broad trial-speed region of roughly 33 to 36 knots is more defensible than a single precise figure.