HC Deb 10 February 1899 vol 66 cc497-8
MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether a spontaneous explosion of three 12-pounder shells occurred in the shell-room of H.M.S. "Eclipse" during her recent stay at Bombay, and whether similar explosions without any apparent cause have occurred in any other ships of Her Majesty's Navy; if so, whether inquiry has been held as to these occurrences; whether it has been ascertained if the explosions in question were due either to the character or condition of the metal composing the shell, or to the character or condition of the explosive wherewith it was filled; and whether precautions have been taken to prevent the recurrence of explosions of so grave and dangerous a character.

THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. G. J. GOSCHEN, St. George's,) Hanover Square

In June last, when the "Eclipse" was at Seychelles, two 12-pounder armour-piercing shells cracked spontaneously in the shell-room, and in cracking ignited the small bursting charges. The explosion prod iced was not serious, as the shells must have been open before the bursters ignited. A similar explosion has not taken place in any other of H.M. ships, as far as is known. The matter has been fully inquired into, and steps have been take*i to prevent the recurrence of this accident.