USS Wolverine's specifications show the scale of the machinery inherited from a Great Lakes paddle steamer. At roughly 150 metres long and 29.8 metres across, the hull had the beam needed for a useful flight deck. Its inclined compound steam engine used one 66-inch piston and two 96-inch pistons with a 108-inch stroke. Six single-ended and three double-ended coal-fired boilers supported a theoretical speed of about 19 knots and a complement of 270. These figures explain why an available paddle vessel could serve as a substantial naval training platform rather than a token deck.
Notable Point · 37:52-39:17
The machinery behind USS Wolverine
Wolverine's inclined compound engine, coal-fired boilers, broad beam, and roughly 19-knot speed made an existing paddle hull practical for carrier training.