User:Beechgrove/sandbox
| Talus Atlantic 85 DO-DO launch carriage | |
|---|---|
 Talus Atlantic 85 DO-DO launch carriage | |
| Type | Launch carriage |
| Manufacturer | Clayton Engineering Limited[1] |
| Length | 8.3 m (330 in) |
| Weight | 2.4 Tonnes maximum ballasted weight. |
The Talus Atlantic 85 DO-DO launch carriage is a Drive On - Drive Off Lifeboat launch and recovery carriage currently used by the RNLI to launch its Atlantic class inshore lifeboats. The carriage is a development of the original Atlantic 21 and 75 DO-DO trolley that has been in service with the institution many years.
The Design
The design was conceived by Clayton Engineering Limited,[2] who worked closely with the RNLI to produce this very efficient launch system. The carriage works in conjunction with the range of Talus tractors which are used to deploy the Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboats. There are three versions of this carriage which include a standard carriage and the option of a hydraulic power pack. This feature allows the carriages pay-load to be angled to the optimum launch position required on the beach and slipways of certain stations around the country. The carriage’s launch platform has an main bed which elevates through 10° to achieve this feature. The third variant of the carriage has the elevation bed mounted on a rail carriage system.
Operation
Under normal launch conditions the lifeboat is loaded with its bow to the rear of the carriage to allow faster deployment. When the lifeboat is recovered it reverses back on to the launch bed.[3] Depending on the sea condition the helmsman require good seamanship to achieve this. If the sea conditions are rough the carriage also gives the option of the rear gates to be opened wide to make the task easier. If the sea conditions are particularly bad at recovery the carriage has an arrestor net[3] which can be hung in the carriage and the lifeboat can be driven in bow first working much like an arrestor wire on an aircraft carrier.[3] The drawback is that the lifeboat would require to be turned around at some point before its next deployment.
RNLI A85 DO-DO launch carriage fleet
This list is incomplete
| Date in service | Op. No. | Station | Image | Lifeboat Pay-load |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C-DDR-005 (Hydraulic Launch Cradel) |
Port Erin[4] | Atlantic 85Muriel and Leslie (B-813) | ||
| C-DDA-007[5] | Sheringham[6] | .JPG)
|
Atlantic 85 The Oddfellows (B-818) | |
| C-DDA-008 | Walmer [7] | Atlantic 85 Donald Mclauchlan (B-808) | ||
| C-DDA-012P | St Bees[8] | _and_Lifeboat.jpg)
|
Atlantic 85 Joy Morris MBE (B-831) |
References
- ^ "Home Page – Clayton Engineering". Information about Clayton Engineering, there products and there clients. Clayton Engineering Limited. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
- ^ "Talus Atlantic 85 DO-DO launch carriage". Decription and details of the carriage. Clayton Engineering Limited. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
- ^ a b c "Rapid Response Lifeboat". Decription and details of DO DO [ Drive On / Drive Off ] Carriage. Copyright © The Royal National Lifeboat Institution. New Brighton. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
- ^ "Port Erin Lifeboat Station". Home page of the Port Erin station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
- ^ "The Tractor – Sheringham Lifeboat Website". Description of the deployment and recovery of the The Oddfellows (B-818) using C-DDA-007. Copyright © Sheringham Lifeboats. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
- ^ "Sheringham Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Sheringham station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
- ^ "Walmer Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Walmer station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
- ^ "St Bees Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the St Bees station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014.