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Talus MB-4H amphibious tractor

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Talus MB-4H
Talus MB-4H RNLI Launch Vehicle
TypeLaunch vehicle
ManufacturerClayton Engineering Limited[1]
Length4.475 m (14.68 ft)
Width2.66 m (8.7 ft)
Height2.75 m (9.0 ft)
Weight9.38 Tonnes
Propulsion4 wheel drive
Engine modelCaterpillar 3114,
4 cylinder, 4.4 litre, Turbo Diesel
Gross power105 hp (78 kW)
Drawbar pull5-6 Tonnes
Speed22 miles per hour (35 km/h)

Talus MB-4H is a four-wheel-drive launch tractor which was specifically designed for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), to launch and recover inshore lifeboats from beach launched lifeboat stations.[2]

The tractor is produced by the British company of Clayton Engineering Limited who are based in Knighton, Powys.[3] The tractor plays an important role within the operations required for saving lives at sea.

Technical specification

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The driver can be seated facing forwards or backwards. The tractor has a steering wheel and throttle pedal for each direction, with fully automatic transmission.

The enclosed cab is fully waterproof, and the vehicle can be operated in calm water to a depth of 1.6m.

Two glazed waterproof boxes containing headlights, side and tail lights, indicators and blue flashing lights, are fitted to both ends of the tractor. There are two cab mounted floodlights at the front and rear.[4]

RNLI Talus MB-4H Fleet

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Op.No.[a] Reg No. Station In service[5] Image Current Lifeboat Payload Comments
TW16Hb
(Mk.1.5)
H610 SUJ Aberdovey
Relief fleet
New Brighton
Blackpool
Relief fleet
Mablethorpe
1991–1993
1993–1995
1995–2001
2001–2009
2009–2010
2010–
Atlantic 85
Jacqueline Saville (B-887)
TW17Hb
(Mk.1.5)
H593 PUX New Brighton
Blackpool
Relief fleet
Redcar
Relief fleet
Atlantic College
Relief fleet
Training
Relief fleet
1990–1995
1996–2001
2001–2003
2003–2010
2010–2011
2011–2013
2013–2014
2014–2018
2018–
[6]
TW18Hb
(Mk.1.5)
H710 RUX Cullercoats
Relief fleet
Redcar
Flamborough
Hunstanton
Clacton-on-Sea
1991–1993
1993–1995
1995–2003
2003–2012
2013–2021
2021–
Atlantic 85
David Porter MPS (B-863)
TW19Hc
(Mk.2)
J120 VNT Redcar
Relief fleet
Newbiggin
Hunstanton
Relief fleet
Rye Harbour
Relief fleet
Aberystwyth
1991–1995
1995–1998
1998–1999
1999–2000
2000–2006
2006–2010
2010–2014
2014–
Atlantic 85
Florence and Ernest Bowles (B-937)
TW20Hc
(Mk.2)
J125 WUJ Hunstanton
Relief fleet
Newbiggin
Relief fleet
New Brighton
1992–1999
1999–2003
2003–2014
2014–2016
2016–
Atlantic 85
Charles Dibdin
(Civil Service No.51)
(B-837)
[7]
TW21Hc
(Mk.2)
J495 XUJ Newbiggin
Relief fleet
Cullercoats
Relief fleet
Littlestone-on-Sea
Relief fleet
1992–2003
2003–2004
2004–2017
2017
2017–2023
2023–
[8]
TW22Hc
(Mk.2)
K501 AUX Cullercoats
Relief fleet
Sheringham
Newbiggin
1993–2004
2004–2005
2005–2015
2015–
Atlantic 85
Richard Wake Burdon (B-864)
TW23Hc
(Mk.2)
K805 CUX Flamborough
Hunstanton
Relief fleet
Whitstable
1993–2003
2003–2013
2013–2014
2014–
Atlantic 85
Lewisco (B-877)
TW24Hc
(Mk.2)
K313 ENT
93-D-45502
Sheringham
Bundoran
1994–2005
2005–
Atlantic 85
William Henry Liddington (B-834)
[9][10]
TW25Hc
(Mk.2)
L807 KNT Bundoran
Newquay
Happisburgh
Relief fleet
1994–2005
2006–2017
2018–2023
2023–
TW26Hc
(Mk.2)
M423 OAW Newquay
Penarth
Relief fleet
Blackpool
1995–2006
2006–2021
2021–2022
2022–
Atlantic 85
William and Eleanor (B-867)
TW27Hc
(Mk.2)
M741 RUX Penarth
Relief fleet
Porthcawl
Relief fleet
Sheringham
1996–2006
2006–2008
2008–2015
2015–2022
2022–
Atlantic 85
The Oddfellows (B-818)
[11]
TW28H
(Mk.3)
N671 UAW Rye Harbour
Relief fleet
Aberystwyth
Relief fleet
Trials
1996–2006
2006–2013
2013–2014
2014–2019
2019–
TW29Hc
(Mk.2)
N144 WUJ Porthcawl
Relief fleet
Happisburgh
Relief fleet
Porthcawl
1996–2008
2008–2009
2009–2012
2012–2015
2015–
Atlantic 85
Rose Of The Shires (B-832)
TW36Hc
(Mk.2)
N805 XUJ Relief fleet
Criccieth
Training(Instow)
Relief fleet
Happisburgh
Relief fleet
Looe
1996–1997
1997–2003
2003–2007
2007–2012
2012–2017
2018–2019
2019–
Atlantic 85
Sheila & Dennis Tongue II (B-894)
TW37Hc
(Mk.2)
P898 CUX Relief fleet
Hunstanton
Relief fleet
Littlestone-on-Sea
Sheringham
Newquay
1996–2000
2000–2003
2003–2008
2008–2015
2015–2017
2017–
Atlantic 85
Uncle Johnny (B-936)
TW45Ha
(Mk.1)
T249 JNT Littlestone-on-Sea
New Brighton
Relief fleet
Cardigan
1999–2008
2008–2016
2016–2023
2023–
Atlantic 85
John Darbyshire (D-845)
[12]
TW46Hb
(Mk.1.5)
V938 EAW New Brighton
Relief fleet
Aberystwyth
Rye Harbour
Relief fleet
Sheringham
Flamborough
Relief fleet
2001–2008
2008–2009
2009–2013
2013–2014
2014–2017
2017–2022
2022–2023
2023–
TW49Hb
(Mk.1.5)
W652 RNT Whitstable
Relief fleet
St Bees
2000–2008
2008–2010
2010–
Atlantic 85
Joy Morris MBE (B-831)
TW50Hb
(Mk.1.5)
W419 UUJ St Bees
Redcar
2000–2010
2010–
Atlantic 85
Leicester Challenge III (B-858)
TW51Hb
(Mk.1.5)
X651 BUJ Mablethorpe
Relief fleet
Cardigan
Relief fleet
2001–2010
2010–2011
2011–2023
2023–
TW52Hc
(Mk.2)
Y506 JNT Cardigan
Relief fleet
Flamborough
Relief fleet
Flamborough
2002–2011
2011–2012
2012–2022
2022–2023
2023–
Atlantic 85
Elizabeth Jane Palmer (B-820)
TW53Hb
(Mk.1.5)
DU51 FET Atlantic College
Relief fleet
Staithes and Runswick
2002–2011
2011–2012
2012–
Atlantic 85
Sheila & Dennis Tongue III (B-897)
TW54Hc
(Mk.2)
DU02 WEJ Aberystwyth
Relief fleet
Staithes and Runswick
Relief fleet
Rye Harbour
Relief fleet
2002–2009
2009–2011
2011–2012
2012–2014
2014–2020
2020–2017
TW55Hc
(Mk.2)
DU52 XGA Staithes and Runswick
Relief fleet
Burnham-on-Sea
2003–2011
2011–2017
2017–
Atlantic 85
Doris Day and Brian (B-914)
[13][14]
TW56Hc
(Mk.2)
DY52 EFR Burnham-on-Sea
Relief fleet
Rye Harbour
2003–2017
2017–2020
2020–
Atlantic 85
Hello Herbie II (B-900)
TW57Hc
(Mk.2)
DX03 UZF Looe
Relief fleet
Hunstanton
2003–2019
2019–2021
2021–
Atlantic 85
Spirit of West Norfolk (B-848)
TW58Hc
(Mk.2)
DX53 VRF Criccieth
Relief fleet
Littlestone-on-Sea
Relief fleet
2003–2013
2013–2015
2015–2017
2018–
TW59Hc
(Mk.2)
DU04 DVW Relief fleet
Whitstable
Relief fleet
Newbiggin
Relief fleet
Cullercoats
2004–2008
2008–2014
2014
2014–2015
2015–2017
2017
Atlantic 85
Daddy's Girl (B-935)
TW60Hc
(Mk.2)
DX54 UYM Clacton-on-Sea
Relief fleet
Penarth
2006–2021
2021
2021–
Atlantic 85
Maureen Lilian (B-839)
TW61Hb
(Mk.1.5)
DX09 LRZ Blackpool
Relief fleet
Littlestone-on-Sea
2009–2022
2022–2024
2024–
Atlantic 85
Jean McIvor (B-922)
TW62Hb
(Mk.1.5)
DX59 LHZ Rye Harbour
Criccieth
2010–2013
2013–
Atlantic 85
Frank Townley (B-938)
TW65H
(Mk.3)
HF24 BWO Margate 2024– Atlantic 85
Colonel Stock (B930)
TW66H
(Mk.3)
  1. ^ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the tractor.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Clayton Engineering Ltd – Home Page". Home Page of Company web-site. Clayton Engineering Ltd. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  2. ^ "Talus MB-4H Tractor". Description and details of the Model. Clayton Engineering Limited. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  3. ^ OS Explorer Map 201 - Knighton and Presteigne Tref-y-clawdd a Dyffryn Elan, Author: Ordnance Survey. Publisher: Ordnance Survey. Work: Folded Map. ISBN 9780319237588
  4. ^ "Talus MB-4H". Clayton Engineering Ltd. Clayton Engineering Ltd. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  5. ^ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 93–95.
  6. ^ "RNLI stations West Wales and Southwest England – Talus Launch Tractor". Photograph of TW17H at Atlantic College. © 2009-2014 Irish Lifeboats. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  7. ^ Hunstanton Lifeboats. Author: Leach, Nicholas. Publisher:Tempus Publishing, First edition,2008. Works: Page 63, Reference to the arrival of the new Talus (TW20H0) on station in 1992. ISBN 9 780752 447490
  8. ^ "Cullercoats Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Cullercoats station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  9. ^ Sheringham Lifeboats: By Leach, Nicholas and Russell, Paul :Published by landmark Pub Ltd, 2009.Work: Page 85, reference to the arrival of TW24H in 1994. ISBN 978-1-84306-473-2
  10. ^ "Bundoran". Photograph of TW24H in the boathouse at Bundoran. © 2009-2014 Irish Lifeboats. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  11. ^ "RNLI stations West Wales and Southwest England – Talus Launch Tractor". Photograph of TW27H. © 2009-2014 Irish Lifeboats. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  12. ^ "New Brighton Lifeboat Station - RNLI". RNLI - Station Website – History – Reference to new tractor and lifeboat. RNLI. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  13. ^ "Staithes and Runswick Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Staithes and Runswick station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  14. ^ "Staithes Town - Staithes Inshore Lifeboat Equipment". Photos of the Talus MB-4H (TW55H). RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.