---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: British battleships were driven by…"
description: "\"“British battleships were driven by between 30 and 100 megawatts of power.”\" — David Edgerton"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdb/david-edgerton-87636_quote_british-battleships-were-driven-by-betwe_1779119.jpg"
---

#  British battleships were driven by between 30 and 100…

![“British battleships were driven by between 30 and 100 megawatts of power.” quote by David Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdb/david-edgerton-87636_quote_british-battleships-were-driven-by-betwe_1779119.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdb/david-edgerton-87636_quote_british-battleships-were-driven-by-betwe_1779119.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdb/david-edgerton-87636_quote_british-battleships-were-driven-by-betwe_1779119.jpg)

> ““British battleships were driven by between 30 and 100 megawatts of power.””

David Edgerton

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

British battleships required massive power output, between 30 and 100 megawatts, to operate their propulsion and systems.

**In simple terms:** Battleships needed huge power.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the scale of early 20th‑century naval engineering.

Themes

technology history naval engineering

Mood

awe curiosity

Type

historical technical

When to use this quote

- maritime museum exhibits
- naval engineering curricula
- historical documentaries

Key Concepts

industrial power marine propulsion strategic deterrence

Questions to Reflect On

- How did power constraints shape naval tactics?
- What modern technologies could replace such massive power needs?

A Different Perspective

Power demands limited ship design flexibility and required extensive fuel logistics.

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## More by David Edgerton

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> [“Thus, a battleship cost around £10m in 1940. Building that battleship today might cost £500m, but to build a battleship representing the same proportion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-edgerton/thus-a-battleship-cost-around-10m-in-1940-building-that-battleship/)

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Explore all 3 David Edgerton quotes

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