§ MR. GOURLEY (Sunderland)asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he would be good enough to inform the House if any, and what, alterations have been made in the construction of the hulls and disposition of the guns of the Trafalgar and Nile from the original designs; whether the bows have been or are intended to be strengthened for ramming warfare, or whether the fore and after ends of both vessels are, as in the case of ships of the Admiral class, wholly without protection; and whether it is a fact that the full speed coal-endurance of those vessels barely exceeds three days' steaming; if so, whether he considers this class of battle ship (and of which Parliament is to be asked to construct more) capable on an emergency of leaving with safety their coaling base, whether at home or abroad?
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONThe only alteration of any importance in the Nile and Trafalgar from the original design consists in the increase of side plating over the central battery to four inches. The alterations in armament are the substitution of six 4.7 in. quick-firing guns for eight 5in. guns in the central battery. The bow and stern of these ships are unprotected by vertical armour for a length of about 60ft. No change has been made or is intended in the construction of the bows of these ships, which is such as to render them thoroughly efficient for ramming purposes. For continuous ocean steaming for long periods the estimated full speed is about 15 knots, and at this speed the ships can steam with full bunkers for eight days, or at 10 knots for 27 days.