Parliamentary Debates Volume 177; Official Report Session of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1865 Excerpt: ...that the 12-ton guns were the least in weight that would be available against armour-plated ships. To that opinion of the Committee he must own that he demurred, thinking it rather hastily formed. Within the last few weeks very conclusive proof had been obtained that a gun, of which they were now making upwards of 200 for the navy--a rifled gun 6 tons weight and 7 inches bore--could pierce the Warrior through at 200 yards. That, moreover, was a gun which they knew and felt confident they could carry in their broadsides. A time, no doubt, would come when they would be able to carry 12-ton guns all round the ship, but this point had not yet been reached, and prematurely to subject the country to the cost of making these large guns by wholesale would be, he thought, a very great piece of folly. It would not be advisable, even if it were possible, to state exactly everything that the Department had done or contemplated, but he might say generally that a requisition had been furnished to the War Office to supply as many 12-ton rifled guns as could be carried in our ships at present. Twelve-ton guns were accordingly being prepared for the Royal Sovereign, and other ships. If he were asked whether our ships at the present moment were armed in all respects as ho should wish them to be, he should answer that they were not. There was a Committee going now carefully into the question of rifling. But he did not know why the lion. Gentleman should venture on the assertion that the French guns caused by the 15-inch from this vessel. There can be no doubt that her fire compelled the Tennessee's surrender, and perhaps saved the entire fleet of wooden vessels from destruction; thus again vindicating the judgment which added this peculiar class of vessels to our navy list, a...