HC Deb 27 May 1886 vol 306 cc203-6
SIR HENRY TYLER (Great Yarmouth)

asked the Secretary of State for War, How many guns have been constructed similar to the 43-ton gun which recently failed on board H.M.S. Collingwood, and at what cost per gun; how many such guns have been issued and are in service; and, whether steps have been taken to prevent risk from the firing of any of these guns until inquiry has been made into the cause of the failure of the Collingwood gun, and the necessity for and best means of strengthening such guns?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN)&c.) (Stirling,

As so many Questions are being asked on this subject, perhaps the House would allow me to state, as briefly as I can, the actual history of the case. The gun to which the accident occurred on board the Collingwood was of a pattern designed in the Royal Gun Factories, and was constructed of a steel tube, jacketted with wrought-iron and steel. The design was submitted to the Ordnance Committee, and was by them provisionally approved, to govern the manufacture of guns then under order, leaving the question of the best construction for future guns of the same calibre an open one. Upon Sir William Armstrong and Co. being invited to tender for the manufacture of guns of this description, they raised doubts as to certain features of the design, and as to the form in which the material was employed. The whole question of the construction of heavy rifled guns was thereupon referred to the Ordnance Committee, who, in August, 1882, recommended that the use of wrought-iron in gun manufacture should be abandoned, and that the manufacture of wrought-iron guns should be discontinued; and in September, 1882, they submitted, among other designs, one for the future manufacture of 12-inch guns to be made entirely of steel. It was considered by the War Office—and in this opinion the Admiralty concurred—that a steel gun should be fully tried before the design was finally adopted. Meantime, the guns being made in Royal Gun Factories, among which were five intended for the Navy, had been so far advanced in manufacture that the construction could not be altered, and the Admiralty agreed to these five being completed, and to six other guns required for the Navy being made to the same design, if the Secretary of State considered it satisfactory. A question on this point was referred to the Ordnance Committee, who, while adhering to their previously expressed view that no more guns of the pattern in question should be made, expressed the opinion that, should the exigencies of the Service require it, the six guns under manufacture in Royal Gun Factories might be appropriated for naval service. They added, in a subsequent Report, that in their opinion the guns in question were safe and trustworthy, provided the charge used did not give a pressure of over 15 tons per square inch in the chamber. The Admiralty were informed, and, as guns were required for the Navy, those referred to were appropriated for that service. In all, 14 guns of this design were made, those of subsequent manufacture being of steel, and of modified design. In February, 1885, owing to the accident with a 6-inch gun on board the Active, and certain failures at proof, the whole question of the construction of breech- loading guns was again referred to the Committee, which was composed of the President and some Members of the Ordnance Committee, having associated with them the following Gentlemen:—namely, Sir William Armstrong, C.B., Captain A. Noble, C.B., of the Elswick firm; Mr. Leece, of the firm of Sir Joseph Whitworth and Co.; Sir Frederick Abel, C.B., Chemist, War Department; and Colonel Maitland, E.A., Superintendent of Royal Gun Factories. It is to be observed that of these Gentlemen none had been concerned in the design of the 12-inch guns particularly in question, except Colonel Maitland. The Committee, as above constituted, reported in May, 1885, and the terms of their recommendations with regard to guns of the design in question were as follows:—"To remain unaltered; but the charge of 295 lbs. cocoa powder not to be exceeded." Under the above circumstances it has been thought desirable to submit, in the first place, the questions arising out of the recent accident to investigations and report by the Ordnance Committee, as at present existing, with the same associated Members as before, except that another member of the firm of Sir Joseph Whitworth and Co. will be nominated in place of Mr. Leece, who has died since the last inquiry.

ADMIRAL FIELD (Sussex, Eastbourne)

asked, whether the answer of the right hon. Gentleman could be printed and circulated among Members, especially military and naval Members, who were interested in the question?

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

The hon. and gallant Gentleman may be perfectly assured that the answer will be printed in the newspapers tomorrow morning.

SIR HENRY TYLER

asked the Secretary of State for War, How many Members of the Committee recently appointed to inquire into the failure of the 43-ton gun on board H.M.S. Collingwood, have been, and how many have not been, directly or indirectly concerned in the design, construction, consideration, or approval of guns of this description, specifying the names of any such independent Members of the Committee?

[No reply.]

COLONEL SALIS-SCHWABE (Lancashire, S.E., Middleton)

asked the Surveyor General of Ordnance, Whether he will defer the commencement of the manufacture of new guns at Woolwich until he has received the Report of the Committee now considering the bursting of the 43-ton gun; and, what sum is estimated for the manufacture of guns at Woolwich during the current year?

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

The 12-inch breech-loading guns now in process of manufacture are entirely different in their construction from the gun which blew its chase off on board the Collingwood; consequently, there does not seem to be any reason why the manufacture should be stopped. My hon. and gallant Friend will see, if he refers to the Army Estimates, that the sum of £294,727 is taken as the charge for the Royal Gun Factory during the year. This may be held to represent the cost of guns to be made at Woolwich during the year.