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Talus MB-H amphibious tractor

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Talus MB-H
Talus MB-H RNLI launch vehicle
TypeLaunch vehicle
ManufacturerClayton Engineering Limited
Length216 in (5.5 m)
Width96 in (2.4 m)
Height117 in (3.0 m)
Weight19.000 tonnes with track pads
Propulsiontracks
Engine modelCaterpillar 3208 V8 Diesel
Gross power210 hp (160 kW)
Drawbar pull15 tonnes (18 tonnes max.) on bare drum
Speed7.5 miles (12.1 km)

Talus MB-H is a continuous track launch tractor which was specifically designed for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), to launch and recover lifeboats from beach-launched lifeboat stations.[1] The tractor is produced by the British company of Clayton Engineering Limited who are based in Knighton, Powys.[2] The tractor plays a role and is a link within the operations required to be carry out the task of saving lives at sea.

The tractor is now largely being discontinued because the RNLI have now replaced the Mersey class all-weather lifeboat with the new Shannon Class Lifeboat which uses the new Launch and Recovery System from Supacat.

Description

This amphibious tractor has been designed to launch carriage-launched lifeboats such as the Mersey-class all-weather lifeboat. The tractor can deploy its pay-load in to a sufficient depth of water to ensure a safe launching of the lifeboat. For recovery the lifeboat is winched from shallow water back onto its carriage allowing the tractor to haul the carriage back across the beach to its boathouse.

Working protocols

The vehicle has been designed to work over varying beach environments and can easily launch and recover lifeboats of up to 15 tonnes in weight. It will comfortably work at full power into up to 2.44 metres (8.0 ft)[1] of calm water. The 3208 V8 Caterpillar diesel engine will generate power simultaneously for drive and for winching during its launch and recovery procedure. Control of the vehicle is achieved using a single joystick controller which controls the hydraulic transmission functions and has the added safety feature of a dead man pedal.

The tractor has a fully enclosed, waterproof, protective cockpit and has duplicated controls front and back for use when facing in either direction. In the event of the tractor becoming inoperable whilst in the water, it can be battened down and left on the sea bed in up to a depth of 9.0 metres (29.5 ft)[1] without the entry of sea water. The tractor has been designed with extensive corrosion protection to protect from the very aggressive working environment of the sea water and beach conditions the tractor has to endure.

Performance

The tractor when tethered to a lifeboat carriage has the capability of towing and pulling such carriages at a top speed of up to 12.0 kilometres (7.5 mi).[1] In addition to its original design intent, the tractor has the advantages of having a varied performance range and can be used for hauling, winching and heavy recovery operations either on dry land or in flood conditions. There are 30 Talus MB-H machines in the RNLI fleet in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.[1]

RNLI Talus MB-H fleet

Op. No. In service Station Reg No. Image Current lifeboat pay-load
T 91 1991–present Llandudno UAW 558Y[3] Mersey-class Andy Pearce (ON 1164)
T 92 1990–2015 Ilfracombe[4] A462 AUX Mersey-class Spirit of Derbyshire (ON 1165)
T 93 1990–1993
1993–present 		Skegness[5]
Rhyl 		A496 CUX Mersey-class Lil Cunningham (ON 1183)
T 94 1990–present Llandudno
Pwllheli 		B567 FAW Mersey-class Lilly and Vincent Anthony (ON 1168)
T 95[6] 1999–present Lytham St Annes B188 GAW Mersey-class Her Majesty The Queen (ON 1189)
T 96 1986–present Wells-next-the-Sea B668 HUJ Mersey-class Doris M. Mann of Ampthill (ON 1161)
T 97 Republic of Ireland
T 98 1993–present Clogher 86-D-120010 Mersey-class Doris Bleasdale (ON 1190)
T 99 1991–2015 Hoylake C82 NUX Mersey-class Lady of Hilbre (ON 1163)
T 100 2009–2010 Bembridge
Cover during construction of new Boathouse 		D446 RAW Mersey-class Peggy & Alex Caird (ON-1124)
T 101[7] 1988–2015 Bridlington[8] D335 SUJ Mersey-class Marine Engineer (ON 1169)
T 102 1993–present New Quay E387 VAW Mersey-class Frank and Lena Clifford of Stourbridge (ON 1172)
T 103[9] 1992–present Scarborough E589 WAW Mersey-class Fanny Victoria Wilkinson and Frank Stubbs (ON 1175)
T 105 1991–present Ramsey FMN 664V Mersey-class Ann and James Ritchie (ON 1171)
T 106 Filey [10] F760 BUJ Mersey-class Keep Fit Association (ON 1170)
T 107 1991–present Filey F769 BUJ Mersey-class Keep Fit Association (ON 1170)
T 108[11] 2009–2014 Exmouth F133 FUJ Mersey-class Margaret Jean (ON 1178)
T 109 1992–present Margate [12] G296 KUX Mersey-class Leonard Kent (ON 1177)
T 110 1991–present Anstruther G751 MNT Mersey-class Kingdom of Fife (ON 1174)
T 111 Peel [13] 12 22 MN Mersey-class Ruby Clery (ON 1181)
T 112 1992–present Seahouses H977 SNT Mersey-class Grace Darling (ON 1173)
T 113[14] 1994–2015 St Ives[4] J794 VUX Mersey-class The Princess Royal (Civil Sservice No. 41) (ON 1167)
T 114 1990–2006
2006–present
Skegness[15] 		J126 WUJ Mersey-class Lincolnshire Poacher (ON 1166)
T115 1994–present Aldeburgh K499 AUX Mersey-class Freddie Cooper (ON 1193)
T 116 1992–2014 Dungeness K920 DUJ Mersey-class Pride and Spirit (ON 1186)
T 117 1991–present Skegness[15]
Seahouses 		L784 JNT Mersey-class Grace Darling (ON 1173)
T 118[16] 1993–present Newcastle W224 SNT Mersey-class Eleanor and Bryant Girling (ON 1188)
T 119 1991–present Hastings [17] N470 XAW Mersey-class Sealink Endeavour (ON 1125)
T 121 1992–present Barmouth DX04 YZG Mersey-class The Moira Barrie (ON 1185)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Talus tractors.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Talus MBH Tractor". Description and details of the Model. Clayton Engineering Limited. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  2. ^ OS Explorer Map 201 - Knighton and Presteigne Tref-y-clawdd a Dyffryn Elan, Author: Ordnance Survey. Publisher: Ordnance Survey. Work: Folded Map. ISBN 9780319237588
  3. ^ "UAW 558Y - 1982 Talus MB-H Crawler - Launch And Recovery Tractor". flickr photograph of T91. flickr. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  4. ^ a b "Meet the RNLI's Trojan horses – the lifeboat tractors of the south west". Talus tractors based in the South-west of England. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  5. ^ Skegness Lifeboats – An illustrated History. Author: Leach, Nicholas. Publisher:Landmark Publishing Ltd. Year Published:2008. Work: Chapter 7, Lincolnshire Poacher, Page 84, Arrival of new boat and tractor. ISBN 978-1-84306-423-7
  6. ^ "A Man and his Beast". Photos from the Lytham St Annes Station of there new Talus MB-H (T 103). Copyright © 2014, Industry MRO Pty Ltd. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  7. ^ The Bridlington Lifeboat – The First 200 Years, 1805-2005. Author: Fred Walkington, MBE. Publisher: Phillimore & CO. Ltd. 2005 Edition. Work: Chapter 6, Page 108, Illustration 37. The present lifeboat tractor, T101. ISBN 9781860773358
  8. ^ "Bridlington Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Bridlington station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  9. ^ "Tractor Photos - Lifeboat Recovery Tractor". Photo of Talus T103 at Scarborough. Tractor Photos © 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  10. ^ "Filey Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Filey station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  11. ^ "The Tractor has Arrived". Photos from the Exmouth Station Website of there new Talus MB-H (T 103). Exmouth Lifeboat Station - RNLI. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  12. ^ "Margate Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Margate station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  13. ^ "Peel Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Peel station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  14. ^ "Tractor Photos - Lifeboat Recovery Tractor". Photo of Talus T103 at St Ives. Tractor Photos © 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  15. ^ a b Skegness Lifeboats – An illustrated History. Author: Leach, Nicholas. Publisher:Landmark Publishing Ltd. Year Published:2008. Work: Chapter 7, Lincolnshire Poacher, Page 94, illustrations: Talus T114 bottom left of page, Talus T117 top of page. ISBN 978-1-84306-423-7
  16. ^ "Newcastle – Talus Launch Tractor". Photograph of T118. © 2009-2014 Irish Lifeboats. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  17. ^ "Hastings Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Hastings station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
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