HC Deb 18 July 1927 vol 209 cc22-3
41. Sir FREDRIC WISE

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of capital ships in 1913 and in 1927?

Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAM

The figures are as follow:

31ST DECEMBER, 1913.
— Built. Building. Total.
Battleships 58 14 72
Battle Cruisers 9 1 10
82
1ST JULY, 1927.
— Built. Building. Total.
Battleships 14 2 16
Battle Cruisers 4 — 4
20

38. Mr. KELLY (for Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY)

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what was the greatest total number of armed vessels-of-war under British and Allied flags engaged in anti-submarine operations, including the escort of convoys, the patrol of trade routes and other areas, and in mine-sweeping and mine-laying, at any one time, or during any one week or other convenient period during the late War; what was this date; what were the sinkings of Allied and British merchant ships during that particular week; and what was the greatest total tonnage of British and Allied merchant ships sunk during any one week during the late War?

Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAM

The greatest total numbers of armed vessels-of-war engaged at one time in the anti-sub- marine operations indicated were British, 3,971, and Allied, approximately, 1,550. The comparable figures for minesweeping and minelaying were: British, 935, and Allied, approximately, 350. The figures are for the month of October, 1918. During that month, 59,229 tons of British and 41,308 tons of Allied merchant shipping were sunk by enemy surface vessels, submarines and mines. The week in which the heaviest total losses were incurred in merchant shipping was that ending on 29th April, 1917, the figures being:

Tons.
British … 172,209
Allied and Neutral … 67,045
Total … 239,254

Sir WILLIAM DAVISON

Can the hon. and gallant Gentleman say how these figures compare with the figures that are being presented by the First Lord at Geneva?

Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAM

No, I am not prepared to do that.

TONNAGE of British Merchant Ships lost by Enemy Action during the War.
— By T.Bs., Cruisers, &c. By Submarines. By Mines. By Aircraft. Total.
Merchant Ships … … 442,702 6,635,059 673,417 7,912 7,759,090
Fishing Vessels … … 5,637 57,583 8,545 Nil 71,765
Total … … 448,339 6,692,642 681,962 7,912 7,830,855
37. Mr. KELLY (for Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY)

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what was the greatest number of cruisers, British and Allied, respectively, engaged in the protection of commerce, as distinct from work with the main battle fleets, at any one time during the late War?

Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAM

The numbers are:

British cruisers 62
Cruisers of Allied and associated Powers 52
In addition to these numbers the four cruisers attached to the Mediterranean Fleet were employed in the protection of trade, and a considerable number of the older battleships were also employed for this purpose.