HC Deb 21 April 1909 vol 3 c1518
Mr. MIDDLEMORE

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many of the 40 British pre-"Dreadnought" battleships referred to in recent official utterances had a main armour-belt less than nine inches thick amidships, and what were the thicknesses of the belts of the vessels concerned; how many of these have less than four inches of armour at either bow or stern, and what was the precise extent of the protection afforded in those parts to the vessels in question; 'how many had guns in their main or secondary batteries of less length than 40 calibres; and how many were equipped with boilers of the obsolete cylindrical type, to the exclusion of other types, and water-tube boilers of the Belleville type, which had long been discarded by the Admiralty as unsuitable for warships?

Mr. McKENNA

The answer to the first part of the question is 13; to the second part 20, to the third part 38, to the fourth part 15, to the fifth part nine, entirely cylindrical; to the sixth part 18, entirely Belleville. It is not considered desirable in the public interest to give officially the exact thickness of armour.

Mr. MIDDLEMORE

Are we to apply to the German Admiralty for the information?

Mr. McKENNA

I have given the hon. Gentleman the complete information for which he has asked, except the precise thickness of the armour.

Mr. MIDDLEMORE

That is the vital point.

Mr. CHARLES CRAIG

Are we to understand that there is the slightest doubt in the minds of foreign naval officers as to the exact thickness of the armour of every ship in the British Navy?

Mr. McKENNA

Yes, there is considerable doubt.

Mr. CHARLES CRAIG

Not the slightest.