HC Deb 26 March 1878 vol 239 cc36-7
SIR GEORGE BOWYER

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is true that the Government have purchased four 100-ton guns, and at what price; whether there is any armour afloat belonging to any country which can resist the 35 and 38-ton Woolwich guns; whether it is true that it is intended to make a 200-ton gun, or a gun over 200 tons, and at what cost; and, whether there is any ship in the service capable of carrying safely one or more 200-ton guns?

MR. GATHORNE HARDY

Sir, the Government have purchased four 100-ton guns, the price of which will appear when the expenditure of the Vote of Credit shall be considered. There is, I believe, no armour afloat at the present moment which can resist the 35 and 38-ton Woolwich guns; but there are vessels at this moment being built by foreign Powers which it is understood will be able to resist those guns. There is no intention on the part of the Government to make a 200-ton gun, nor, so far as I am aware, is there any ship in Her Majesty's Service that could carry it.