Trial torpedo boat attacks on Portsmouth Harbour were a common occurrence. One such attack in early December lasted from 6.00 pm. to 10.00 pm. The manoeuvres of one boat in particular impressed the onlookers; the boat slipped through the outer line of the searchlight defences, but was picked up by the searchlights of the inner defences. The turns and evolutions of the boat as it attempted to escape the beams of were particularly good. The list on this boat as she turned sixteen points with the helm hard a-starboard, and then hard a-port was reported to be "tremendous".