§ MR. SAMUEL SMITH (Flintshire)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any of the seven torpedo gunboats of the Salamander class have yet succeeded in doing their trial speed of 21 knots; and whether the 18 torpedo gunboats, described as sister ships of the Salamander, and also stated to have a speed of 21 knots, are expected to realise that speed?
§ LORD G. HAMILTONNone of these vessels have developed on trial more than 3,500 to 4,000-horse power, as against 4,500-horse power specified. I have fully explained the reasons for this falling off in a Memorandum on the Estimates for 1891–92. The speeds attained have been from 19½ to 20 knots, as against 21 knots estimated under maximum forced draught trial. Of the 18 vessels mentioned two have boilers of the same size as, although differing in details from, those in the Salamander. The remaining five, which are already begun, have larger boilers. With the larger boilers a higher speed may, I hope, be obtained. Eleven other vessels have yet to be ordered.