Turbines could be reliable in service and still be difficult to manufacture well. The same distinction applied to long-range scopes, telescopes, and optical fire-control equipment. Many powers could build workable systems, while a smaller group achieved exceptional quality. Serviceable optics could still produce firing solutions, but better manufacturing improved the result. Similar designs could therefore yield different performance when investment and manufacturing skill differed.
Notable Point · 18:30-19:17
Turbine performance relied on accumulated industrial skill
A comparison with naval optics shows why shared design principles did not guarantee equal manufacturing quality.