"Aylwin" had two 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 boilers powered the engines, which could generate , and it was hoped, move the ship at the design speed of . However, during builder's trials conducted in July 1913, "Aylwin" failed to reach this speed, and was withdrawn from testing. After sister ship "Parker" exceeded the design speed in August with a different propeller design, "The Washington Post" reported that "Aylwin"s propellers would be changed to the new design.