§ 6. Mr. RANKINasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the recent experiments 1276 at Toulon in which a submarine was used to solve certain problems involved in raising such vessels which have been damaged and sunk on to the ocean bed; and whether he can say if any similar experiments are to be made in this country?
The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Sir Bolton Eyres Monsell)I understand that the trials at Toulon were only ordinary exercises with Davis and Belloni apparatus. Experiments with a view to the solution of problems involved in raising submarines were carried out by us between 1929 and 1931, submarine "L/" being used for the purpose. As a result of these experiments, together with the valuable experience gained in the attempt to salve "M/" in 1932, and much useful information supplied to us by the United States naval authorities in connection with the salvage of their submarine "S.4," it has been possible during 1933 to make a thorough survey of submarine salvage operations and to decide on our future policy. I hope to be in a position to give the House further information when introducing the Navy Estimates.