Engineering:Talus MB-4H amphibious tractor

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Short description: RNLI Amphibious launch 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.[lower-alpha 1] Reg No. Station In Service[5] Image Current Lifeboat Payload Comments
TW16Hb
(Mk.1.5) 		H610 SUJ Template:Lbs 1991–1993
Relief fleet 1993–1995
Template:Lbs 1995–2001
Template:Lbs 2001–2009
Relief fleet 2009–2010
Template:Lbs 2010–2025
Relief fleet 2025–
TW17Hb
(Mk.1.5) 		H593 PUX Template:Lbs 1990–1995 100px [6]
Template:Lbs 1996–2001
Relief fleet 2001–2003
Template:Lbs 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 Template:Lbs 1991–1993 100px
Relief fleet 1993–1995
Template:Lbs 1995–2003
Template:Lbs 2003–2012
Template:Lbs 2013–2021
Template:Lbs 2021–2025
Relief fleet 2025–
TW19Hc
(Mk.2) 		J120 VNT Template:Lbs 1991–1995 Template:Lbb
Florence and Ernest Bowles (B-937)
Relief fleet 1995–1998
Template:Lbs 1998–1999
Template:Lbs 1999–2000
Relief fleet 2000–2006
Template:Lbs 2006–2010
Relief fleet 2010–2014
Template:Lbs 2014–
TW20Hc
(Mk.2) 		J125 WUJ Template:Lbs 1992–1999 100px Template:Lbb
Charles Dibdin
(Civil Service No.51) (B-837) 		[7]
Relief fleet 1999–2003
Template:Lbs 2003–2014
Relief fleet 2014–2016
Template:Lbs 2016–
TW21Hc
(Mk.2) 		J495 XUJ Template:Lbs 1992–2003 [8]
Relief fleet 2003–2004
Template:Lbs 2004–2017
Relief fleet 2017
Template:Lbs 2017–2023
Relief fleet 2023–
TW22Hc
(Mk.2) 		K501 AUX Template:Lbs 1993–2004 100px Template:Lbb
Richard Wake Burdon (B-864)
Relief fleet 2004–2005
Template:Lbs 2005–2015
Template:Lbs 2015–
TW23Hc
(Mk.2) 		K805 CUX Template:Lbs 1993–2003 Template:Lbb
Lewisco (B-877)
Template:Lbs 2003–2013
Relief fleet 2013–2014
Template:Lbs 2014–
TW24Hc
(Mk.2) 		K313 ENT Template:Lbs 1994–2005 100px Template:Lbb
William Henry Liddington (B-834) 		[9][10]
93-D-45502 Template:Lbs 2005–
TW25Hc
(Mk.2) 		– Template:Lbs 1994–2005 100px
L807 KNT Template:Lbs 2006–2017
Template:Lbs 2018–2023
Relief fleet 2023–
  • TW26Hc
  • (Mk.2)
 M423 OAW Template:Lbs 1995–2006 Template:Lbb
William and Eleanor (B-867)
Template:Lbs 2006–2021
Relief fleet 2021–2022
Template:Lbs 2022–
TW27Hc
(Mk.2) 		M741 RUX Template:Lbs 1996–2006 Template:Lbb
RNLB The Oddfellows (B-818) 		[11]
Relief fleet 2006–2008
Template:Lbs 2008–2015
Relief fleet 2015–2022
Template:Lbs 2022–
TW28H
(Mk.3) 		N671 UAW Template:Lbs 1996–2006 Template:Lbb
Jacqueline Saville (B-887)
Relief fleet 2006–2013
Template:Lbs 2013–2014
Relief fleet 2014–2019
Trials 2019–2025
Template:Lbs 2025–
TW29Hc
(Mk.2) 		N144 WUJ Template:Lbs 1996–2008 100px Template:Lbb
Rose Of The Shires (B-832)
Relief fleet 2008–2009
Template:Lbs 2009–2012
Relief fleet 2012–2015
Template:Lbs 2015–
TW36Hc
(Mk.2) 		N805 XUJ Relief fleet 1996–1997 100px Template:Lbb
Sheila & Dennis Tongue II (B-894)
Template:Lbs 1997–2003
Training (Instow) 2003–2007
Relief fleet 2007–2012
Template:Lbs 2012–2017
Relief fleet 2018–2019
Template:Lbs 2019–
TW37Hc
(Mk.2) 		P898 CUX Relief fleet 1996–2000 100px Template:Lbb
Uncle Johnny (B-936)
Template:Lbs 2000–2003
Relief fleet 2003–2008
Template:Lbs 2008–2015
Template:Lbs 2015–2017
Template:Lbs 2017–
TW45Ha
(Mk.1) 		T249 JNT Template:Lbs 1999–2008 100px Template:Lbb
Loving You (B-942)
Template:Lbs 2008–2016
Relief fleet 2016–2023
Template:Lbs 2023–2024
Relief fleet 2024–2025
Template:Lbs 2025–
TW46Hb
(Mk.1.5) 		V938 EAW Template:Lbs 2001–2008 100px Template:Lbb
Albatross (B-871)
Relief fleet 2008–2009
Template:Lbs 2009–2013
Template:Lbs 2013–2014
Relief fleet 2014–2017
Template:Lbs 2017–2022
Template:Lbs 2022–2023
Relief fleet 2023–2024
Template:Lbs 2024–
TW49Hb
(Mk.1.5) 		W652 RNT Template:Lbs 2000–2008 100px Template:Lbb
Joy Morris Template:Post-nominal (B-831)
Relief fleet 2008–2010
Template:Lbs 2010–
TW50Hb
(Mk.1.5) 		W419 UUJ Template:Lbs 2000–2010 Template:Lbb
Leicester Challenge III (B-858)
Template:Lbs 2010–
TW51Hb
(Mk.1.5) 		X651 BUJ Template:Lbs 2001–2010 100px Template:Lbb
Spirit of West Norfolk (B-848)
Relief fleet 2010–2011
Template:Lbs 2011–2023
Relief fleet 2023–2025
Template:Lbs 2025–
TW52Hc
(Mk.2) 		Y506 JNT Template:Lbs 2002–2011 100px Template:Lbb
Elizabeth Jane Palmer (B-820)
Relief fleet 2011–2012
Template:Lbs 2012–2022
Relief fleet 2022–2023
Template:Lbs 2023–
TW53Hb
(Mk.1.5) 		DU51 FET Template:Lbs 2002–2011 100px Template:Lbb
Sheila & Dennis Tongue III (B-897)
Relief fleet 2011–2012
Template:Lbs 2012–
TW54Hc
(Mk.2) 		DU02 WEJ Template:Lbs 2002–2009 100px
Relief fleet 2009–2011
Template:Lbs 2011–2012
Relief fleet 2012–2014
Template:Lbs 2014–2020
Relief fleet 2020–
TW55Hc
(Mk.2) 		DU52 XGA Template:Lbs 2003–2011 Template:Lbb
Doris Day and Brian (B-914) 		[12][13]
Relief fleet 2011–2017
Template:Lbs 2017–
TW56Hc
(Mk.2) 		DY52 EFR Template:Lbs 2003–2017 100px Template:Lbb
Hello Herbie II (B-900)
Relief fleet 2017–2020
Template:Lbs 2020–
TW57Hc
(Mk.2) 		DX03 UZF Template:Lbs 2003–2019
Relief fleet 2019–2021
Template:Lbs 2021–2025
Relief fleet 2025–
TW58Hc
(Mk.2) 		DX53 VRF Template:Lbs 2003–2013 100px Template:Lbb
Berylium (B-955)
Relief fleet 2013–2015
Template:Lbs 2015–2017
Relief fleet 2018–2025
Template:Lbs 2025–
TW59Hc
(Mk.2) 		DU04 DVW Relief fleet 2004–2008 100px Template:Lbb
Daddy's Girl (B-935)
Template:Lbs 2008–2014
Relief fleet 2014
Template:Lbs 2014–2015
Relief fleet 2015–2017
Template:Lbs 2017–
TW60Hc
(Mk.2) 		DX54 UYM Template:Lbs 2006–2021 Template:Lbb
Maureen Lilian (B-839)
Relief fleet 2021
Template:Lbs 2021–
TW61Hb
(Mk.1.5) 		DX09 LRZ Template:Lbs 2009–2022 100px {Template:Lbb
Jean McIvor (B-922)
Relief fleet 2022–2024
Template:Lbs 2024–
TW62Hb
(Mk.1.5) 		DX59 LHZ Template:Lbs 2010–2013 Template:Lbb
Frank Townley (B-938)
Template:Lbs 2013–
TW65H
(Mk.3) 		HF24 BWO Template:Lbs 2024– Template:Lbb
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. http://www.claytonengineering.co.uk/. Retrieved 25 March 2014. 
  2. ↑ "Talus MB-4H Tractor". Description and details of the Model. Clayton Engineering Limited. http://www.claytonengineering.co.uk/equipmentitem/4d78e22f702ba/Talus-MB4H. 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. https://www.claytonengineering.co.uk/product-details/4d78e22f702ba/Talus-MB4H. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 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. http://www.irishlifeboats.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=181068278. 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. http://rnli.org/findmynearest/station/Pages/Cullercoats-Lifeboat-Station.aspx. 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. http://www.irishlifeboats.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=133240310. Retrieved 30 March 2014. 
  11. ↑ "RNLI stations West Wales and Southwest England – Talus Launch Tractor". Photograph of TW27H. © 2009-2014 Irish Lifeboats. http://www.irishlifeboats.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=181068275. Retrieved 30 March 2014. 
  12. ↑ "Staithes and Runswick Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Staithes and Runswick station. RNLI © 2014. http://rnli.org/findmynearest/station/Pages/Staithes-and-Runswick-Lifeboat-Station.aspx. Retrieved 30 March 2014. 
  13. ↑ "Staithes Town - Staithes Inshore Lifeboat Equipment". Photos of the Talus MB-4H (TW55H). RNLI © 2014. http://www.staithes-town.info/rnli/equipment.asp. Retrieved 28 March 2014. 



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