The first dreadnoughts are redesigned around the newly available machinery while the range and weight of 11-inch and 12-inch armament are compared. The final 22-knot refit gains one knot without sacrificing the balanced hull. Funnel changes reduce smoke interference and signature, so the machinery arrangement improves fighting efficiency as well as raw power. Applying the design across the class turns several incremental technologies into a coherent fleet-wide modernization.
Chapter · 3:14:41-3:22:40
Refitting the first dreadnoughts for the turbine era
A fleet-wide refit balances heavier guns, an extra knot of speed, stability, and reduced smoke interference.