Talus MB-764 amphibious tractor

Talus MB-764
Talus MB-764 RNLI Launch Vehicle
TypeLaunch vehicle
ManufacturerClayton Engineering Limited[1]
Length3.880 m (152.8 in)
Width2.260 m (89.0 in)
Height2.950 in (0.0749 m)
PropulsionAll Gear 4 wheel drive
Engine model4 cylinder Diesel
Gross power80 hp (60 kW)

Talus MB-764 is a four-wheel drive launch tractor which was specifically designed for the RNLI, to launch and recover inflatable inshore lifeboats from beach and shorebased launched lifeboat stations.[2] The Tractor is produced by the British company of Clayton Engineering Limited who are based in Knighton, Powys.[3]

Development

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The MB-764 was the first launch tractor designed and developed in conjunction with the RNLI to launch the institutions smaller inshore inflatable lifeboat fleet. Clayton’s based the design of the MB-764 on Ford County Commercial Cars.[4] At the design and development stage the company presented two Prototype models. The first being the main take up by the RNLI. The first of these launch tractors went into service with the RNLI in 1975 and since then over 30 tractors have been operated by the Institute around the United Kingdom and Ireland. The basic design, operating and performance characteristics have not changed from the initial design concept vehicle, with the exception of the propelled wading capability.

RNLI Talus MB 764 Fleet

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Current Location

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Op. No.[a] Reg No. Station In service[5] Image Current Lifeboat Pay-load Comments
TW01 XTK 150M
J72200
New Brighton
Cardigan
Relief fleet
St Bees
Relief fleet
St Catherine
Relief fleet
Trearddur Bay
Relief fleet
1974–1987
1987–1995
1995–1996
1996–2000
2000–2002
2002–2010
2010–2011
2011–2020
2020–
TW02 LRU 581P Relief fleet
Beaumaris
Cardigan
Abersoch
Silloth
Relief fleet
Lyme Regis
Relief fleet
Weston-super-Mare
Relief fleet
1976
1976–1987
1987
1988–1997
1998–2003
2003–2004
2004–2014
2014–2015
2015–2023
2023–
TW03 RLJ 367R Blackpool
Relief fleet
Newbiggin
Relief fleet
St Ives
Rye Harbour
Aberystwyth
Relief fleet
Arran (Lamlash)
Relief fleet
Largs
Relief fleet
Kinghorn
Kessock
Relief fleet
Kinghorn
Relief fleet
1977–1979
1979–1981
1981
1981–1986
1986–1991
1991–1992
1992–1996
1996–1998
1998–2004
2004–2005
2005–2012
2012
2012–2014
2015–2016
2016–2017
2017–2022
2022–
Atlantic 85
Spirit of Loch Fyne (B-857)
TW04 TEL 705R
J 93085
Whitstable
Cardigan
Trearddur Bay
Relief fleet
Kinghorn
Relief fleet
Kinghorn
Relief fleet
St Catherine
1977–1994
1995–2002
2002–2010
2010–2011
2011–2012
2012–2014
2014–2017
2017–2019
2019–
Atlantic 85
Eric W Wilson (B-841)
TW05 UJT 151S Littlestone-on-Sea
Staithes and Runswick
Relief fleet
St Ives
Trearddur Bay
Mudeford
Relief fleet
Weston-super-Mare
Rhyl
1977–1978
1978–1987
1987–1991
1991–1995
1996–2002
2002–2006
2006–2007
2007–2011
2012–
D-class (IB1)
Mary Maxwell (D-770)
TW06 VRU 611S
BMN 476L
Abersoch
Peel
Largs
Kinghorn
Relief fleet
Barmouth
Bude
Cleethorpes
1978–1988
1988–1992
1992–1997
1998–2003
2003–2004
2004
2004–2007
2007–
D-class (IB1)
James Burgess II (D-757)
TW07 MAN 49W
XLJ 796S
88-D-43711
Peel
St Bees
Abersoch
Skerries
1978–1988
1989–1996
1997–2003
2003–
Atlantic 85
Louis Simson (B-866)
[6][7]
TW08 D508 RUJ
87-CE-3065
Littlestone-on-Sea
Lough Swilly
Beaumaris
Kilrush
1979–1994
1995–1996
1996–2000
2001–
Atlantic 85
Edith Louise Eastwick (B-844)
[8][9]
TW09 PEL 169W
J 93085
Newbiggin
Staithes and Runswick
Atlantic College
Abersoch
St Catherine
Relief fleet
Burry Port
1981–1992
1992–1993
1994–2002
2003–2009
2010–2019
2019–2022
2022–
Atlantic 85
The Missus Barrie (B-915)
TW10 VEL 99X Hunstanton
Relief fleet
Kinghorn
Relief fleet
Training(Instow)
Relief fleet
Beaumaris
Relief fleet
Largs
Relief fleet
Appledore
1982–1992
1992–1994
1994–1998
1998–2002
2003–2006
2006–2008
2008–2010
2010–2012
2012–2013
2013–2017
2017–
Atlantic 85
Glaneley (B-861)
TW11 B251 HUX Relief fleet
Redcar
Staithes and Runswick
Criccieth
Largs
Staithes and Runswick
Training(Instow)
Barrow
Shoreham Harbour
Relief fleet
Weston-super-Mare
Relief fleet
Lymington
1985–1986
1986–1987
1987–1992
1992–1997
1997–1998
1998–2003
2006–2007
2007–2008
2008–2010
2010–2012
2012–2015
2015–2016
2016–
Atlantic 85
David Bradley (B-882)
[10]
TW12 D508 RUJ
BPR 667T
Kinghorn
St Catherine
Relief fleet
Beaumaris
Hayling Island
Relief fleet
Beaumaris
1987–1994
1995–1997
1997–2000
2000–2008
2008–2018
2019–2012
2021–
Atlantic 85
Annette Mary Liddington (B-838)
TW13 D948 SAW Beaumaris
St Catherine
Red Bay
Relief fleet
Beaumaris
Relief fleet
1987–1996
1997–2002
2002–2009
2009–2010
2010–2021
2021–
TW14 D659 TNT
J 15014
87-D-38843
New Brighton
St Catherine
Youghal
Relief fleet
Lough Swilly
Relief fleet
West Mersea
Relief fleet
Burry Port
Relief fleet
Tighnabruaich
1987–1990
1991–1995
1996–1999
1999–2001
2001–2007
2007–2009
2009–2019
2019–2020
2020–2022
2022–2023
2023–
Atlantic 85
James and Helen Mason (B-862)
TW15 E592 WNT Redcar
Relief fleet
Sheringham
Silloth
Largs
Relief fleet
Appledore
Relief fleet
Hayling Island
1987–1991
1991–1992
1992–1994
1994–1998
1998–2005
2005–2007
2007–2017
2017–2018
2018–
Atlantic 85
Derrick Battle (B-829)
[11]
TW30 L123 HUX Staithes and Runswick
Relief fleet
Youghal
Relief fleet
Lymington
Training
Relief fleet
Red Bay
1993–1998
1998–1999
1999–2005
2005–2006
2006–2016
2016–2017
2018–2019
2019–
Atlantic 85
Geoffrey Charles (B-843)
[12][13]
TW31 L526 JUJ Littlestone-on-Sea
Relief fleet
Barmouth
Rhyl
Relief fleet
Red Bay
Relief fleet
Lough Swilly
Relief fleet
1994–1999
1999–2004
2004–2006
2006–2008
2008–2009
2009–2019
2019–2021
2021–2022
2022–
TW32 L161 LAW Whitstable
Relief fleet
Penlee
Relief fleet
Burry Port
Relief fleet
Kinghorn
1994–2000
2000–2003
2003–2014
2014–2018
2018–2020
2020–2022
2022–
Atlantic 85
Tommy Niven (B-836)
TW33 M562 OUX Lough Swilly
Relief fleet
Rhyl
Mudeford
1996–2001
2001–2002
2002–2006
2006–
Atlantic 85
Mudeford Servant
(Civil Service No.48) (B-806)
TW34 M71 RUX Kilrush
Relief fleet
Kessock
Relief fleet
Kessock
1996–2001
2001–2002
2002–2015
2015–2016
2016–
Atlantic 85
Robert and Isobel Mowat (B-873)
TW35 N506 WNT Red Bay
Tighnabruaich
Silloth
1996–2002
2002–2012
2013–
Atlantic 85
Elaine and Don Wilkinson (B-828)
TW38 N469 XAW Skerries
Silloth
Relief fleet
Abersoch
1997–2003
2003–2013
2013–2016
2017–
Atlantic 85
Peter and Ann Setten (B-886)
[14]
TW39 N687 YAW
96-D-61119
Lyme Regis
Clifden
1997–2004
2004–
Atlantic 85
Joyce King (B-869)
[15][16]
TW40 P472 CUJ Aberystwyth
Relief fleet
Kinghorn
Weston-super-Mare
Tighnabruaich
Weston-super-Mare
1996–2002
2002–2003
2003–2011
2011–2012
2012–2023
2023–
Atlantic 85
Douglas Murray (B-830)
TW41 P301 DAW Tighnabruaich
Relief fleet
Arran (Lamlash)
Relief fleet
Portishead
1997–2002
2002–2004
2004–2013
2013–2015
2015–
Atlantic 85
My Lady Anne (B-884)
TW42 R473 UUX
97-G-8631
Clifden
Relief fleet
Youghal
1998–2004
2004–2005
2005–
Atlantic 85
Gordon and Phil (B-890)
[17][18]
TW43 S540 UNT Hayling Island
Relief fleet
Abersoch
Relief fleet
West Mersea
1998–2008
2008–2009
2009–2017
2018–2019
2019–
Atlantic 85
Just George (B-879)
TW44 S193 RUJ Appledore
Relief fleet
Rhyl
Burry Port
Relief fleet
Trearddur Bay
2000–2007
2007–2008
2008–2010
2010–2018
2018–2020
2020–
Atlantic 85
Hereford Endeavour (B-847)
TW47 T315 FLG
99-D-87952
Lymington
Relief fleet
Lough Swilly
Relief fleet
Lough Swilly
2000–2006
2006–2007
2007–2021
2021–2022
2022–
Atlantic 85
Minnie and Ernest George Barry (B-819)
[19][20]
TW48 V281 EUJ West Mersea
Relief fleet
Trearddur Bay
Relief fleet
Southwold
Arran (Lamlash)
2000–2009
2009–2010
2010–2011
2011–2012
2012–2013
2013–
Atlantic 85
Rachael Hedderwick (B-876)
TW63 DS13 LGW Largs 2013– Atlantic 85
R. A. Wilson (B-854)
[21]
TW64 HG63 VAO Lyme Regis
Relief fleet
2014–2023
2023–
  1. ^ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number

See also

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References

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  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 978-0-319-23758-8
  4. ^ "The foremost in four-wheel drive - The Definitive County Register Online". Information about County Commercial Cars. County Commercial Cars. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  5. ^ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 93–95.
  6. ^ "Skerries Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Skerries station. RNLI © 2014. Archived from the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  7. ^ "Skerries – Talus Launch Tractor". Photograph of TW11 and registration No. © 2009-2014 Irish Lifeboats. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  8. ^ "Kilrush Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Kilrush station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
  9. ^ "Kilrush – Talus Launch Tractor". Photograph of TW 08. © 2009-2014 Irish Lifeboats. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  10. ^ "Lymington Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Lymington station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  11. ^ Hayling Island Lifeboats. Author: Leach, Nicholas. Publisher:Foxglove Media, 2010 edition. Work: Chapter – 1995 to 2005, page 47: reference to the arrival of TW43 in 1998. Chapter – 2005 to present, Page 54: reference to dates of service of TW43. ISBN 978-0-9513656-9-4
  12. ^ "Red Bay Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Red Bay station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  13. ^ "Red Bay – Talus Launch Tractor". Photograph of TW31 and registration No. © 2009-2014 Irish Lifeboats. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  14. ^ "Abersoch Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Abersoch station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  15. ^ "Clifden Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Clifden station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  16. ^ "Clifden – Talus Launch Tractor". Photograph of TW 39 in the boathouse at Clifden. © 2009-2014 Irish Lifeboats. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  17. ^ "Youghal Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Youghal station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  18. ^ "Youghal – Talus Launch Tractor". Photograph of TW42 and registration No. © 2009-2014 Irish Lifeboats. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  19. ^ "Lough Swilly Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Lough Swilly station. RNLI © 2014. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  20. ^ "Lough Swilly – Talus Launch Tractor". Photograph of TW47 in the boathouse at Lough Swilly. © 2009-2014 Irish Lifeboats. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  21. ^ "Largs Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Largs station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.