HC Deb 22 April 1909 vol 3 cc1783-4W
Mr. LONSDALE

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many of the cruisers and other craft which were scrapped in 1004–5, on the ground that they had no serious military value, are still in service or figure in the effective list?

Mr. McKENNA

supplied the following information:—

Cruisers, second class: "Mercury," depot ship for submarines; "Apollo" and "Andromache," for employment as mine layers; "Spartan," employed as tender to "Defiance."

Cruisers, third class: "Pomone," to be repaired for employment as instructional ship; "Medea," commissioned for special service in the Mediterranean; "Philomel," commissioned for service in the Mediterranean or East Indies; "Calliope," lent to Tyneside Division, R.N.V. Reserve; "Wallaroo," attached to "Indus" for training of mechanicians; "Cleopatra," attached to "Defiance" as overflow ship.

Armoured Vessels: "Ganges II."(late "Boscawen II.," late "Minotaur"), depot for youths at Harwich; "Fisgard IV."(late "Sultan"), forms part of depot for training of boy artificers; "Emerald "(late "Black Prince"), receiving ship at Queenstown.

Sloops: "Algerine," "Cadmus," and "Clio," commissioned for particular service; "Fantome," "Mutine," and "Merlin," employed on surveying service; "Racer," attached to Osborne College; "Itinaldo," employed as tender to "Vivid"; "Vestal," employed as tender to "Excellent"; "Odin," drill ship for Cape Naval Volunteers; "Melita," fitted for boom defence.

Gunboats: "Bramble," "Britomart," and "Thistle," in commission on China Station for river service; "Onyx," is a base for submarines; "Thrush," employed as a coastguard vessel; "Ringdove," employed on fishery protection duties; "Pike," fitted for boom defence.

In addition to the above, it has been decided that the following ships shall either be fitted in the near future or shall be retained for subsidiary naval service, viz.:—

Cruisers, second class: "Naiad" and "Intrepid," about to be fitted as mine layers; "Tribune," "Pique," "Melampus," "Rainbow," and "Retribution," decided to retain for possible service as mine layers.

Sloops: "Alert" and "Espiegle," to be fitted for relief of vessels subsidised by Government of India.

Gunboats: "Antelope," "Magpie," "Partridge," and "Stork," decided to retain for service as harbour service tenders or other subsidiary service.