The Fiji or Crown Colony class provides another example of the pressure imposed by treaty displacement. Replacing its four boilers and four geared steam turbines with gas turbines could release weight while supplying substantial power. Eight 15,000-horsepower units would give a proposed total of 120,000 shaft horsepower. The more useful design gain might be the ability to produce capable successors to the Town class within the original tonnage limit, reducing the need for major wartime modifications.
Notable Point · 54:12-55:24
Gas turbines could ease the Crown Colony class's tonnage constraint
Saved machinery weight could give the Fiji class more design margin within treaty limits and reduce the need for wartime alterations.