In reply to a question raised by Colonel Howard Vincent regarding German contracts for the Royal Navy the Secretary to the Admiralty had stated that a 'specimen life-saving boat of special pattern, adapted for service in torpedo boats and destroyers was offered for trial in May 1893 by the English agents of a German firm. It was subsequently purchased and subjected to a series of severe tests. As a result it had been decided to adopt this type of boat in a number of destroyers being built at the time.