USS TEXAS - Speed Trials 1914

USS TEXAS with all her boilers lit

FireRoom of the era with coal fired boilers 

Speed trials in the US Navy were run after a ship had been commissioned and was in service.  An observing group of flag officers (Board of Inspection) boarded for the three day test. The ship was brought to her maximum speed and held there for 24 hours.

At the end of the timed run her rudder was put a full thirty-five degrees to starboard, then thirty-five degrees to port in order to determine the tactical radius.  The rudder was then returned to midships, the engines were put in full reverse, and the ship brought up to 17 knots.

"She'll steam, damn her lousy old soul!"

After this, the Dual-Acting Vertical Triple Expansion steam engine was expected to need only normal, daily maintenance and boilers the usual ash/clinker removal.