In December 1891 and January 1892 a number of articles on the "Dearth of torpedo boats in Her Majesty's Navy.' appeared in the British press, Great Britain had only nine first-class torpedo boats, twenty obsolete torpedo boats that were too small, too slow and unsafe, even in moderate seas, and fifty boats of 125 feet in length built in response to the so-called Russian scare. Compared to the very large numbers of modern boats possessed by Germany, France and Italy these were considered to be totally inadequate, and what was required were boats 120 feet to 150 feet in length, fitted with triple-expansion engines of sufficient power to produce speed in excess of 20 knots in actual service.