HC Deb 20 July 1866 vol 184 cc1166-7
MR. OSBORNE

said, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty, If the experiments commenced by the late Board in firing at the Royal Sovereign will be completed as originally contemplated—namely, by firing flat-headed steel shot or shell from the Whitworth 7-inch gun, thereby ascertaining the penetration as compared with that of the round-headed shot fired from the 12-ton gun?

SIR JOHN PAKINGTON

Sir, in answer to the Question, I beg to say that I do not exactly know what the hon. Member refers to by the words "originally contemplated." I am not aware that anything passed privately between the Duke of Somerset and Mr. Whitworth; but I have made inquiry in the office of the Admiralty, and I find no trace of any intention to renew the firing at the Royal Sovereign. To fire again at the same turret would, I apprehend, be very useless, and I am not aware of any intention on the part of the former Board to fire at any other of the turrets of the ship. In answer to the latter part of the Question, I apprehend that any comparison between the 7-inch gun and the 12-ton gun would be unfair. But as regards the question between the flat-headed shot and the round-headed shot, I believe there is no doubt whatever of the penetrating power of the flat-headed shot. The real question with regard to this shot is, whether or not its shape does not prevent its passing with accuracy through' the air at long ranges, so that its flight is very uncertain. As the penetrating power of the flat-headed shot has been ascertained, any further trial against the cupola of the Royal Sovereign would be quite useless; and, to test the question that really remains with respect to the flat-headed shot, it would be far better to fire at a target at Shoeburyness than again to fire at one of the cupolas of the Royal Sovereign. Under these circumstances, it is not the intention of the Board of Admiralty to order any further firing at the Royal Sovereign.

MR. OSBORNE

said, he would call the attention of the House at the earliest opportunity to our system of naval gunnery.