§ 9. Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the experiments to ascertain the effect on a ship s structure of aeroplane bombs exploding under water have been carried out with the largest size bombs against the hulls of actual ships of modern construction; if not, whether it is intended to carry out such experiments; and can he give names of the ships used for purposes of recent experiments of this nature?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Bridgeman)The latest experiment to ascertain the effect on a ship's structure of aeroplane bombs exploded below water was carried out against the 1148 "Monarch" with a portion of the side reconstructed to represent the most recent design of underwater protection. The charge used was 2,000 lbs., corresponding to a bomb of about 4,000 lbs.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWould the right hon. Gentleman, without detriment to the public interest, give the result of these experiments?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANNo, I am afraid not.