§ ADMIRAL FIELD (Sussex, Eastbourne)asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, with reference to the new armour-belted cruiser Impérieuse at Portsmouth, now fitting for trial at sea, Whether it is a fact that when her stores are all on board she will be immersed three feet deeper than her design warrants, and her armour-belt entirely under water; whether her torpedo lower portsills will then be flush with the water, and her armoured deck in the same position; whether she was designed to have three feet of armoured freeboard, which has thus been destroyed; whether she was designed to carry 1,100 tons of coal, which has since, under the circumstances, been reduced to 900 tons; whether the ship is to be sent to sea in the condition described, with her stability thus seriously affected, and her efficiency as a seaworthy fighting ship destroyed; whether the cost of hull and machinery amounts in round numbers to £485,000; whether there is reason to fear that similar errors may exist in the designs of the other belted cruisers now in course of building; and, whether he will cause strict inquiry to be made with a view to ascertaining upon whom really rests the responsibility?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON) (Middlesex, Ealing)The alleged difference between the actual and designed draught of the Impérieuse has been carefully investigated by the present Board of Admiralty, and we have ascertained that—(1) when the ship is complete with all her stores and coal on board, as designed, she will be 11½ inches deeper than her original designed line. This is due to known additions of weight of armament, machi- 163 nery, &c, which have been accepted during the building of the ship, by which her speed has been increased to 17 knots as against 16 knots in the design. (2) In this condition the height of the three torpedo ports (lower edge) will be respectively—forward, 2 feet 10½ inches; amidships, 3 feet 2½ inches; aft, 2 feet 4½ inches. The height of the armour or belt deck will be 2 feet 3½ inches. (3) She was designed to have 3 feet 3 inches armoured freeboard, and this has been reduced, as above stated, to 2 feet 3½ inches. (4) She was designed to carry 400 tons of coal (as an average quantity) at her normal draught, with power to stow 900 tons when required. In subsequently settling the details of internal arrangements, it has been found possible to stow as much as 1,130 tons. Any quantity carried beyond the 400 tons of course means increased immersion. The extra immersion due to carrying 900 tons of coal is 14 inches beyond the 11½ inches above stated, or 2 feet 1½ inches. (5) The ship is to be sent to sea for an experimental cruise in company with the Colossus, starting with 900 tons of coal. The designers are quite satisfied with the stability, which is not at all appreciably affected by the increase of draught. (6) The cost of hull and machinery is about £485,000. (7) The sister ship Warspite will be in the same position. The Constructors' Department inform me that there is no reason to anticipate that the other belted cruisers will exceed their designed draught.