A parliamentary question joined two machinery controversies: the German-built Dürr boilers ordered for Medusa and defects reported during HMS Formidable's trials. The Admiralty priced eight boilers at £19,450, excluding spare parts and installation. The guarantee specified 155,000 pounds of dry steam per hour at 1.5 inches of air pressure, 104,000 at 0.5 inch for continuous steaming, and 80,000 under natural draught. The split sleeve, minor leaks, and steam-pipe expansion work concerned Formidable. The Medusa answer covered the Dürr purchase and its performance guarantees, so reading the exchange in sequence keeps the two ships' machinery evidence separate.
Chapter · 11:14-13:37
Medusa's Dürr boiler purchase and the Formidable debate
A Commons exchange separates Medusa's German boiler purchase from defects and steam-pipe work aboard HMS Formidable.