HC Deb 12 March 1888 vol 323 cc895-7

After completing the 7 armoured ships before alluded to, there will remain in hand the following armoured vessels when the next financial year closes:—

and of these the first three will be approaching completion, while considerable expenditure will still have to be incurred on the "Nile" and "Trafalgar."

The Board, therefore, decided not to lay down during 1888–9 any new ironclads. They propose, however, to re-engine the "Superb" and "Thunderer," and re-arm the latter, Provision for these purposes has been made in this year's Estimates.

Excluding for the moment the special squadron for Australasian service, the following are the new vessels to be built is 1888–9:—

9—Protected Ships:—
First Class Cruisers 2
Torpedo Depôt Ship and Torpedo Boat Carrier 1
Third Class Cruisers
Steel Bottomed 2
Sheathed and Coppered 4
14—Unprotected Ships:—
Sloops ("Buzzard "type) 2
Gunboats * ("Rattler" type, improved) 6
Torpedo Gunboats ("Sharpshooter" type) 6
Sailing Brig (training boys) 1
24

All these vessels, with the exception of one first-class and one third-class cruiser, and two composite gunboats, will be built in the Dockyards.

The special squadron for service in Australasian waters is to consist of

5 Protected Cruisers (new design).
2 Torpedo Gunboats ("Sharpshooter" type).
7

It is proposed to construct these 7 vessels by contract.

The total number of vessels to be laid down is 31, comprising an aggregate displacement of 60,000 tons.