HC Deb 21 March 1928 vol 215 cc357-8
13. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any recent experiments have been carried out to test the effect of large bombs dropped from aircraft so as to explode under water on the hulls of large warships; whether, without detriment to the public interest, he can state the conclusions of the Board on this subject; and whether his attention has been drawn to the experiments carried out by the American Government for testing the effects of air attacks of this nature on warships, the details of which have been published?

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

A number of experiments to ascertain the effect on a ship's structure and fittings of bombs exploding below water have been carried out by the Admiralty, and recent design in under-water protection is based on information obtained from these experiments. Research is still being continued on this subject on scale models and special targets. It is not in the public interest that the details of the various experiments carried out and in contemplation should be published. All the published accounts of experiments made by the American Government have been received and noted by the Admiralty; in general they are in accord with the British Admiralty experiments.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the American experiments it has been shown that large bombs dropped in this way could disable or sink the most modern ship, and does the First Lord feel satisfied that experiments on models and in tanks will prove a real test in this matter?

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

I did not say that our experiments were on models. I said that, we were quite aware of what has been published by the American Government, and we are keeping our eyes open.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

I do not want the right hon. Gentleman to feel that he is being pressed in any way, but I wish to know if experiments have actually been carried out against floating ships?

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

I should like that question to be put on the Paper.

Captain CROOKSHANK

Were the experiments on central hulls?

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Or on crooked shanks?