HC Deb 06 March 1911 vol 22 c986W
Mr. ROBERT HARCOURT

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is expected that twenty-one German "Dreadnoughts" can be completed before the normal period when the ships of the current British programme will be in commission—namely, February, 1914?

Mr. McKENNA

I have no official information as to the dates of completion of any ships beyond the spring of 1913, when Germany will have seventeen delivered from the shipyards. Assuming that the ships of the 1911–12 programme are delivered from the shipyards three years after the date of authorisation, as is to be the case with those of the 1910–11 programme, Germany will have twenty-one "Dreadnoughts "delivered from the shipyards in the spring of 1914.

Mr. ROBERT HARCOURT

asked the First Lord with reference to his statement on 26th July, 1909, column 966, OFFICIAL REPORT, that five German ships were laid down in October, 1908, and January, 1909, what were the vessels referred to; and if he wall give for each separately the date of laying down and the date of completion for trials?

Mr. McKENNA

The ships referred to were:—" Ostfriesland," "Helgoland," "Thuringen," Moltke," and "Olden-berg." The exact official dates on which they were laid down have not been given. They will be delivered from the shipyards—"Helgoland," "Thuringen," "Moltke," in June, 1911; "Ostfriesland," in August, 1911; "Oldenberg," in the spring of 1912.

Mr. ROBERT HARCOURT

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will give the laying-down date for the German vessels "Ostfreisland," "Helgoland," "Thuringen," "Moltke," Cruiser H, "Oldenburg," "Ersatz Heirhdal," and "Ersatz Hildebrand"?

Mr. McKENNA

I have no official information as to the dates on which these vessels were laid down.