Talus MB-4H amphibious tractor

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

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]

All of the following fleet details are referenced to the 2026 Lifeboat Enthusiast Society Handbook, with information retrieved directly from RNLI records.[5]

RNLI Talus MB-4H Fleet

Op.No.[a] Reg No. Station In Service[5] Image Current Lifeboat Payload Comments
TW16Hb
(Mk.1.5) 		H610 SUJ Aberdovey 1991–1993
Relief fleet 1993–1995
New Brighton 1995–2001
Blackpool 2001–2009
Relief fleet 2009–2010
Mablethorpe 2010–2025
Relief fleet 2025–
TW17Hb
(Mk.1.5) 		H593 PUX New Brighton 1990–1995 [6]
Blackpool 1996–2001
Relief fleet 2001–2003
Redcar 2003–2010
Relief fleet 2010–2011
Atlantic College 2011–2013
Relief fleet 2013–2014
Training 2014–2018
Relief fleet 2018–
TW18Hb
(Mk.1.5) 		H710 RUX Cullercoats 1991–1993
Relief fleet 1993–1995
Redcar 1995–2003
Flamborough 2003–2012
Hunstanton 2013–2021
Clacton-on-Sea 2021–2025
Relief fleet 2025–
TW19Hc
(Mk.2) 		J120 VNT Redcar 1991–1995 Atlantic 85
Florence and Ernest Bowles (B-937)
Relief fleet 1995–1998
Newbiggin 1998–1999
Hunstanton 1999–2000
Relief fleet 2000–2006
Rye Harbour 2006–2010
Relief fleet 2010–2014
Aberystwyth 2014–
TW20Hc
(Mk.2) 		J125 WUJ Hunstanton 1992–1999 Atlantic 85
Charles Dibdin
(Civil Service No.51) (B-837) 		[7]
Relief fleet 1999–2003
Newbiggin 2003–2014
Relief fleet 2014–2016
New Brighton 2016–
TW21Hc
(Mk.2) 		J495 XUJ Newbiggin 1992–2003 [8]
Relief fleet 2003–2004
Cullercoats 2004–2017
Relief fleet 2017
Littlestone-on-Sea 2017–2023
Relief fleet 2023–
TW22Hc
(Mk.2) 		K501 AUX Cullercoats 1993–2004 Atlantic 85
Richard Wake Burdon (B-864)
Relief fleet 2004–2005
Sheringham 2005–2015
Newbiggin 2015–
TW23Hc
(Mk.2) 		K805 CUX Flamborough 1993–2003 Atlantic 85
Lewisco (B-877)
Hunstanton 2003–2013
Relief fleet 2013–2014
Whitstable 2014–
TW24Hc
(Mk.2) 		K313 ENT Sheringham 1994–2005 Atlantic 85
William Henry Liddington (B-834) 		[9][10]
93-D-45502 Bundoran 2005–
TW25Hc
(Mk.2) 		– Bundoran 1994–2005
L807 KNT Newquay 2006–2017
Happisburgh 2018–2023
Relief fleet 2023–
  • TW26Hc
  • (Mk.2)
 M423 OAW Newquay 1995–2006 Atlantic 85
William and Eleanor (B-867)
Penarth 2006–2021
Relief fleet 2021–2022
Blackpool 2022–
TW27Hc
(Mk.2) 		M741 RUX Penarth 1996–2006 Atlantic 85
RNLB The Oddfellows (B-818) 		[11]
Relief fleet 2006–2008
Porthcawl 2008–2015
Relief fleet 2015–2022
Sheringham 2022–
TW28H
(Mk.3) 		N671 UAW Rye Harbour 1996–2006 Atlantic 85
Jacqueline Saville (B-887)
Relief fleet 2006–2013
Aberystwyth 2013–2014
Relief fleet 2014–2019
Trials 2019–2025
Mablethorpe 2025–
TW29Hc
(Mk.2) 		N144 WUJ Porthcawl 1996–2008 Atlantic 85
Rose Of The Shires (B-832)
Relief fleet 2008–2009
Happisburgh 2009–2012
Relief fleet 2012–2015
Porthcawl 2015–
TW36Hc
(Mk.2) 		N805 XUJ Relief fleet 1996–1997 Atlantic 85
Sheila & Dennis Tongue II (B-894)
Criccieth 1997–2003
Training (Instow) 2003–2007
Relief fleet 2007–2012
Happisburgh 2012–2017
Relief fleet 2018–2019
Looe 2019–
TW37Hc
(Mk.2) 		P898 CUX Relief fleet 1996–2000 Atlantic 85
Uncle Johnny (B-936)
Hunstanton 2000–2003
Relief fleet 2003–2008
Littlestone-on-Sea 2008–2015
Sheringham 2015–2017
Newquay 2017–
TW45Ha
(Mk.1) 		T249 JNT Littlestone-on-Sea 1999–2008 Atlantic 85
Loving You (B-942)
New Brighton 2008–2016
Relief fleet 2016–2023
Cardigan 2023–2024
Relief fleet 2024–2025
Cleethorpes 2025–
TW46Hb
(Mk.1.5) 		V938 EAW New Brighton 2001–2008 Atlantic 85
Albatross (B-871)
Relief fleet 2008–2009
Aberystwyth 2009–2013
Rye Harbour 2013–2014
Relief fleet 2014–2017
Sheringham 2017–2022
Flamborough 2022–2023
Relief fleet 2023–2024
Cardigan 2024–
TW49Hb
(Mk.1.5) 		W652 RNT Whitstable 2000–2008 Atlantic 85
Joy Morris MBE (B-831)
Relief fleet 2008–2010
St Bees 2010–
TW50Hb
(Mk.1.5) 		W419 UUJ St Bees 2000–2010 Atlantic 85
Leicester Challenge III (B-858)
Redcar 2010–
TW51Hb
(Mk.1.5) 		X651 BUJ Mablethorpe 2001–2010 Atlantic 85
Spirit of West Norfolk (B-848)
Relief fleet 2010–2011
Cardigan 2011–2023
Relief fleet 2023–2025
Hunstanton 2025–
TW52Hc
(Mk.2) 		Y506 JNT Cardigan 2002–2011 Atlantic 85
Elizabeth Jane Palmer (B-820)
Relief fleet 2011–2012
Flamborough 2012–2022
Relief fleet 2022–2023
Flamborough 2023–
TW53Hb
(Mk.1.5) 		DU51 FET Atlantic College 2002–2011 Atlantic 85
Sheila & Dennis Tongue III (B-897)
Relief fleet 2011–2012
Staithes and Runswick 2012–
TW54Hc
(Mk.2) 		DU02 WEJ Aberystwyth 2002–2009
Relief fleet 2009–2011
Staithes and Runswick 2011–2012
Relief fleet 2012–2014
Rye Harbour 2014–2020
Relief fleet 2020–
TW55Hc
(Mk.2) 		DU52 XGA Staithes and Runswick 2003–2011 Atlantic 85
Doris Day and Brian (B-914) 		[12][13]
Relief fleet 2011–2017
Burnham-on-Sea 2017–
TW56Hc
(Mk.2) 		DY52 EFR Burnham-on-Sea 2003–2017 Atlantic 85
Hello Herbie II (B-900)
Relief fleet 2017–2020
Rye Harbour 2020–
TW57Hc
(Mk.2) 		DX03 UZF Looe 2003–2019
Relief fleet 2019–2021
Hunstanton 2021–2025
Relief fleet 2025–
TW58Hc
(Mk.2) 		DX53 VRF Criccieth 2003–2013 Atlantic 85
Berylium (B-955)
Relief fleet 2013–2015
Littlestone-on-Sea 2015–2017
Relief fleet 2018–2025
Newcastle 2025–
TW59Hc
(Mk.2) 		DU04 DVW Relief fleet 2004–2008 Atlantic 85
Daddy's Girl (B-935)
Whitstable 2008–2014
Relief fleet 2014
Newbiggin 2014–2015
Relief fleet 2015–2017
Cullercoats 2017–
TW60Hc
(Mk.2) 		DX54 UYM Clacton-on-Sea 2006–2021 Atlantic 85
Maureen Lilian (B-839)
Relief fleet 2021
Penarth 2021–
TW61Hb
(Mk.1.5) 		DX09 LRZ Blackpool 2009–2022 {Atlantic 85
Jean McIvor (B-922)
Relief fleet 2022–2024
Littlestone-on-Sea 2024–
TW62Hb
(Mk.1.5) 		DX59 LHZ Rye Harbour 2010–2013 Atlantic 85
Frank Townley (B-938)
Criccieth 2013–
TW65H
(Mk.3) 		HF24 BWO Margate 2024– Atlantic 85
Colonel Stock (B930)
  • TW66H
  • (Mk.3)
 – Built for Private Owner
TW67H
(Mk.3) 		– In Build
  1. ^ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the tractor.

See also

References

  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. ^ a b Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2026). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2026. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society. pp. 65–68.
  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 9780752447490
  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 9781843064732
  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. ^ "Staithes and Runswick Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Staithes and Runswick station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  13. ^ "Staithes Town - Staithes Inshore Lifeboat Equipment". Photos of the Talus MB-4H (TW55H). RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Talus MB-4H tractors.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.