Steam turbines were not one generic invention. Their blade and nozzle arrangements had to extract useful work from pressurized steam, demanding precise shapes and suitable materials. A merchant ship might prioritize low pressure and easy maintenance, while a destroyer needed compact high-speed power and a cruiser or battleship needed economical cruising as well as battle speed. Those operating requirements affected turbine architecture, manufacturing difficulty, material choice, and price.
Notable Point · 34:01-36:09
Turbine design follows the ship's mission
Merchant ships, destroyers, cruisers, and battleships demanded different balances of turbine pressure, speed, economy, maintenance, and cost.