From time to time considerable pressure had been applied on the Admiralty to increase the size of the torpedo flotilla, ten boats had been provided for in the 1892-1893 Estimates. Provision had also been made for six 27-knot torpedo boat destroyers. These were to be smaller than the Rattlesnake and the Editors of The Engineer doubted their ability to keep the sea and overtake a torpedo boat. In their opinion this required a vessel no smaller in displacement than 500 tons.