HC Deb 27 August 1886 vol 308 c663
COLONEL HUGHES-HALLETT (Rochester)

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether, inasmuch as the Edinburgh, Conqueror, and Impérieuse are not, and never have been, in commission, there are no heavy armour-piercing breech-loading guns afloat, otherwise than in dock, except those of the Colossus, which the captain has been ordered not to fire?

THE FIRST LORD (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON) (Middlesex, Ealing)

There are no heavy breech-loading guns afloat capable of piercing 20 inches of armour at 2,000 yards in ships in commission, except those in the Colossus.