 Nicholson had two Zoelly steam turbines that drove her two screw propellers , and an additional pair triple @-@ expansion steam engines , each connected to one of the propeller shafts , for cruising purposes . Four oil @-@ burning White @-@ Forster boilers powered the engines , which could generate 17 @,@ 000 shp ( 13 @,@ 000 kW ) , moving the ship at up to 29 kn ( 33 mph ; 54 km / h ) . Nicholson reached an average speed of 29 @.@ 084 kn ( 33 @.@ 469 mph ; 53 @.@ 864 km / h ) over a 4 @-@ hour run during sea trials on 23 March 1915 . 
