§ Viscount CURZONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1) what are the latest known figures of the cruiser position of the British Empire, United States of America, Japan, France and Italy, showing ships proposed, authorised, under construction, and in commission respectively, and giving the date when each ship will reach the age limit, when known;
(2) whether he can give the latest known figures of the submarine position of the British Empire, United States of America, Japan, France and Italy, showing the ships proposed, authorised, under construction, and in commission, respectively, giving the date when each ship will reach the age limit, when known?
(3) whether he can give the latest known figures of the destroyer position of the British Empire, United States of America, Japan, France and Italy, showing the ships proposed, authorised, under construction and in commission, respectively, 1767W giving the date when each ship will reach the age limit, when known?
Built — British Empire. United States. Japan. France. Italy. Cruisers … … 38 8 8 7 13 Destroyers … … 197 291* 74 41 56 Submarines … … 60 113 42 42 43 Building. Cruisers … … 4 2 5 3 2 Destroyers … … 5 0 9 16 10 Submarines … … 7 9 11 13 4 Projected. Cruisers … … 5† 8‡ 6† 2† 4‡ 2‡ Destroyers … … 2† 0 17† 8† 33‡ 16‡ Submarines … … — 1† 20† 10† 37‡ 16‡ * Includes 9 transferred to the Coastguard Service. † Authorised. ‡ Not yet authorised. The above figures are based on the following assumptions:
(a) That the efficient life of a
light cruiser is … … 15 years destroyer is … … 12 years submarine is … … 10 years (b) That in the case of British vessels one year's war service is equivalent to two years' peace service.
With reference to the last part of the questions, the Noble Lord is referred to the "Return of Fleets (British Empire and Foreign Countries)," White Paper No. 41 of February, 1924. To reply in detail would amount to the compilation of a fresh Return of a similar nature, which is not possible in the time available. If, however, the assumptions in regard to age referred to above are applied to the column of the Return which gives the date of completion of each individual vessel, the information required will be obtained in regard to foreign vessels. In the case of British vessels, an allowance will have to be made for War service.