 Blücher was equipped with three vertical 4 @-@ cylinder triple expansion engines . Each engine drove a propeller , the center screw being 5 @.@ 3 m ( 17 ft 5 in ) in diameter , while the outer two screws were slightly larger , at 5 @.@ 6 m ( 18 ft 4 in ) in diameter . The ship had a single rudder with which to steer . The three engines were segregated in individual engine rooms . With six marine @-@ type double boilers per room , the ship contained a total of 18 coal @-@ fired boilers . The ship had a designed maximum speed of 24 @.@ 5 knots ( 45 @.@ 4 km / h ; 28 @.@ 2 mph ) , but during her trials , she achieved 25 @.@ 4 knots ( 47 @.@ 0 km / h ; 29 @.@ 2 mph ) . At a cruising speed of 12 knots ( 22 km / h ; 14 mph ) , Blücher could steam for 6 @,@ 600 nautical miles ( 12 @,@ 200 km ; 7 @,@ 600 mi ) . At a speed of 18 knots ( 33 km / h ; 21 mph ) , her range was cut down to 3 @,@ 250 nmi ( 6 @,@ 020 km ; 3 @,@ 740 mi ) . The ship was designed to carry 900 t ( 890 long tons ) of coal , though voids in the hull could be used to expand the fuel supply to up to 2 @,@ 510 t ( 2 @,@ 470 long tons ) of coal . Electrical power for the ship was supplied by six turbo @-@ generators that provided up to 1 @,@ 000 kilowatts , rated at 225 volts . The highest power ever achieved by a reciprocating engine warship was the 37 @,@ 799 indicated horsepower ( 28 @,@ 187 kW ) produced by Blücher on her trials in 1909 . 
