Talus MB-H amphibious tractor

Talus MB-H
Talus MB-H RNLI launch vehicle
Type	Launch vehicle
Manufacturer	Clayton Engineering Limited
Length	216 in (5.5 m)
Width	96 in (2.4 m)
Height	117 in (3.0 m)
Weight	19.000 tonnes with track pads
Propulsion	tracks
Engine model	Caterpillar 3208 V8 Diesel
Gross power	210 hp (160 kW)
Drawbar pull	15 tonnes (18 tonnes max.) on bare drum
Speed	7.5 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)

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See also

• Talus MB-4H launch tractor
• Talus MB-764 Launch tractor
• TC45 launch tractor
• Talus Atlantic 85 DO-DO launch carriage

References