HC Deb 15 December 1994 vol 251 cc815-6W
Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which ships his Department has used for target practice during the past five years.

Mr. Soames

Three decommissioned warships were used as targets and sunk in live firing exercises between 1990 and 1994. It is common practice for navies to test weapon effectiveness on surplus vessels which have had all reusable spares and equipment removed. Testing the effectiveness of a weapon against a realistic target is of particular value in the course of weapon development, which is an extremely expensive process. Such use of targets also provides valuable training.