§ Mr. ASHLEYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that in the heavy gunlayers' test of 1911 the average position occupied by ships of the "Dreadnought" type was 89.9 as compared with an average of 37.75 for the "Majesties," the oldest battleships taking part in a total number of 127 warships; and whether there is any satisfactory explanation of the fact?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe comparatively high average position occupied by the "Majestic" class is due to the results obtained with the secondary armament of 6-in. guns. The "Dreadnought" class are not so armed. Comparing the results obtained with the primary armament of 12-in. guns in turrets common to both classes, the average positions occupied, out of forty-one competing ships, are:—
A result very creditable to the "Dreadnought" class.
"Dreadnought" class 16.91 "Majestic" class 30.37