§ ADMIRAL FIELDI beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the 6-inch gun, which recently burst with such disastrous results on board H.M.S. Cordelia, was of same pattern as the 6-inch gun which burst on board H.M.S. Active, in 1882 or 1883, during her gun trials at Spithead; whether any steps were afterwards taken to strengthen the remaining guns of same pattern; whether the Cordelia's gun had been so strengthened; whether the naval experts made any representation on the subject, or expressed themselves as satisfied with the guns when so strengthened; and whether, in view of the naval feeling on the subject outside the Admiralty, their Lordships will direct that a certain percentage of the remaining guns of this pattern be tested to bursting point, in order to restore confidence in those remaining, or else that they may be withdrawn from service afloat?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Lord G. HAMILTON, Middlesex, Ealing)Yes; the gun was of the same pattern, but the Active's gun burst in the chase, and not near the breech as in this case. These guns were ordered, in 1882, to be chase-hooped as they came in for repair, and pending such strengthening they were only to be 115 fired with a reduced charge. The Cordelia's guns had not been so strengthened, but the recent accident could not have been prevented by this means, as the gun went near the breech. I am not aware that any representation was made by naval experts upon the structure or strength of this particular mark of gun, but the Ordnance Committee (which included naval officers), in April, 1882, recommended that no more guns of this mark should be manufactured. The experiment of testing the endurance of this design of gun was tried in 1882, and a gun was continuously fired with 400 battering charges, and the firing was only ceased when the gun failed to rotate the projectiles. Looking to the fact that this gun is of an inferior design to that of the guns subsequently made of the same calibre, I have made arrangements by which the guns of this mark will be immediately replaced by those of a later date in all ships except those about to be relieved. This change can be effected without in any way interfering with the supply of guns for ships now building or coming on for commission.