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XIII.—Brennan Torpedo.
49. The question of the retention of the Brennan torpedo installation at Hong Kong has recently been dealt with in the Colonial Defence Committee's Memorandum No. 415 M, dated the 21st February, 1910, in which it was stated that, in view of the short range of the Brennan torpedo and of the comparatively retired positions in which the installations are necessarily sited, it will seldom prove an effective defence against any form of attack by armoured ships on defended ports that is now regarded as reasonably probable, except in the case of attempts being made to run through narrow channels of approach to inner waters. As it was not then considered probable that attacking ships would attempt to enter the inner waters of Hong Kong Harbour, the Committee recommended that, if the Brennan torpedo installation can be maintained in a state of efficiency without any considerable expenditure being incurred, it should be maintained until such time as submarines have been added to the local naval defence flotilla.
50. As it is now considered, see paragraph 23 above, that attempts by armoured ships to force an entrance into the inner waters of Hong Kong must now be provided against, the Brennan torpedo installation might under the new conditions fulfil a useful function in the defence of the inner waters. Its usefulness is, however, strictly limited by the shortness of its range about 2,000 yards. Without a great multiplication of installations the whole of the inner waters of the harbour of Hong Kong could not be covered by the Brennan torpedo. Moreover, as the Brennan torpedo factory and the school of instruction have been closed, the expense involved in reopening these establishments for the maintenance of one installation at Hong Kong constitute serious objections to the resuscitation of this weapon.
51. In these circumstances the Committee are of opinion that when the local naval defence flotilla has been strengthened by an adequate number of destroyers and submarines the Brennan torpedo installation may be withdrawn.
XIV.—Conclusions.
52. The Colonial Defence Committee are of opinion that to enable the local defences of Hong Kong to hold out for one month against such forms of attack as Japan could bring against the fortress, if during that period she possessed the local command of the China Seas, the following additions to the local naval and military defences would be required :---
(1.) Heavy Armament-
(a.) Eastern Entrance : 2-9'2-inch howitzers to be mounted on Mount
Parker.
(b.) Western Entrance : 2—9-2-inch howitzers to be mounted on Victoria
Peak.
(2.) Medium Armament: No increase of the medium armament as at present
approved is required.
(8.) Light Armament—--
(a.) Eastern Entrance: 4-12-pr. Q.F. guns to be mounted near Pak-
sha-wan.
(b.) Western Entrance: 2----12-pr. Q.F. guns to be mounted at Kowloon
(4.) Electric Lights—
West.
4-4.7-inch Q.F. guns to be mounted at Victoria.
(a) Eastern Entrance: Two of the existing electric lights to be converted
to dispersed beams.
(b). Western Entrance: One concentrated and two dispersed beams to be sited near Kowloon West, and one concentrated and two dispersed beams near Victoria.
(5.) Garrison: The garrison to be increased by 14,000 to 16,000 men with a due
proportion of artillery.
(6.) Submarine Mines: Arrangements to be made for laying mines should the
situation render the employment of this form of defence desirable. (7.) Local Naval Defence: An adequate flotilla of submarines and destroyers to be
stationed at Hong Kong.
[545]
E
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