HC Deb 27 February 1912 vol 34 cc1330-1W
Mr. ROBERT HARCOURT

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if, in view of the statement made by his predecessor on 16th March, 1909, that the German power of constructing "Dreadnoughts" is almost, if not fully, equal to our own, he will state on a comparable basis the time occupied in building those British and German vessels already completed, from date of laying down to commission, giving any necessary proviso as to allowance for collection of material prior to laying the keel, time occupied in trials before full commission, etc.

Mr. CHURCHILL

The information asked for by my hon. Friend is shown in the following tabular statements:—

BRITISH.
Ship. Date of Time occupied in trials before commissioning. (Days.) Time occupied in Building.
Order to commence. (1) Laying down. (2) First commission. (3) (1) to (3). (2) to (3).
"Dreadnought" 8-7-05 2-10-05 11-12-06 61 1 yr. 5 months. 1 yr. 2 months.
"Bellerophon" 30-10-06 3-12-06 20-2-09 72 2 yrs.4 months. 2 yrs.3 months.
"Temeraire" 30-10-06 1-1-07 15-5-09 73 2 yrs. 7 months. 2 yrs. 4 months.
"Superb" 26-12-06 6-2-07 29-5-09 66 2 yrs. 5 months. 2 yrs. 4 months.
"St. Vincent" 26-10-07 30-12-07 3-5-10 81 2 yrs. 6 months. 2 yrs. 4 months.
"Collingwood" 26-10-07 3-2-08 19-4-10 52 2 yrs. 6 months. 2 yrs. 3 months.
"Vanguard" 6-2-08 2-4-08 1-3-10 96 2 yrs. 1 months. 1 yrs. 11 months.
"Neptune" 14-12-08 19-1-09 11-1-11 63 2 yrs. 1 months. 2 yrs.
"Hercules" 1-6-09 30-7-09 4-7-11 120 2 yrs. 1 months. 1 yrs. 11 months.
"Colossus" 1-6-09 8-7-09 8-8-11 129 2 yrs. 2 months. 2 yrs. 1 months.
"Orion" *3-8-09 29-11-09 2-1-12 73 2 yrs. 5 months. 2 yrs. 1 months.
* Date of preparing to build.
GERMAN.
Ship. Programme year. Date ordered. (1) Commissioned for trials. (2) Completed trials. (3) Difference between (1) and (2). Difference between (1) and (3).
"Nassau" 1906–7 *Aug., 1907 Oct., 1909 May, 1910 †2 yrs. 2 months. †2 yrs. 9 months.
"Westfalen" 1906–7 *Aug.,1907 Nov., 1909 May, 1910 †2 yrs. 3 months. †2 yrs. 9 months.
"Rheinland" 1907–8 Apl., 1907 Apl., 1910 Aug., 1910 3 yrs. 3 yrs. 4 months.
"Posen" 1907–8 Apl., 1907 May, 1910 Aug., 1910 3 yrs. 1 months. 3 yrs. 4 months.
"Ostfriesland 1908–9 Apl., 1908 Aug., 1911 Sept.,1911 3 yrs. 4 months. 3 yrs. 5 months.
"Helgoland" 1908–9 Jun., 1908 Aug., 1911 Dec, 1911 3 yrs. 2 months. 3 yrs. 6 months.
"Thüringen" 1908–9 Jun., 1908 July, 1911 Sept., 1911 3 yrs. 1 months. 3 yrs. 3 months.
* Date keel was laid † From date keel was laid.
The above Table relates to facts, and is not necessarily a measure of capability.