HC Deb 05 April 1967 vol 744 c49W
54. Mr. Rowland

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate has been made by his Department of the effectiveness of destroying by naval or air action the oil cargo of a static oil tanker when clearly visible and in one piece.

Mr. Foley

As yesterday's White Paper on the "Torrey Canyon" made clear the problem is not to destroy a wrecked oil tanker but to open its oil tanks to allow free combustion of its cargo. The success of such a precision operation depends on many factors including the construction and state of the ship, its position and list.