§ Mr. ROBERT HARCOURTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will say what battleships have been struck out of effective commission in the years ending 31st March. 1908, 1909, 1910, and 1911; and what are the oldest battleships in commission during the current year?
§ Mr. McKENNAAssuming that "struck out of effective commission" means that the ships have been paid off for disposal by sale or otherwise, or that they have been relegated to the position of reserve units of the Fleet, the names are as follows for the periods stated:—
Year ending 31st March. 1908 … Nil. 1909 … Nil. 1910 … "Barfleur." "Centurion." "Renown." 1911 … "Hood." "Repulse." "Nile" Are under orders to be struck out. "Trafalgar" "Ramillies" "Resolution" "Empress of India" "Royal Oak" "Royal Sovereign" The oldest battleship in commission on the effective list during the present year is the "Trafalgar," launched in September, 1887; but excluding vessels now ordered to be struck out, the oldest ship is the "Revenge," tender to Gunnery School, launched in November, 1892. The oldest in the Fourth Division of the Home Fleet is the "Magnificent," launched in 1894.