Talus MB-H amphibious tractor


Talus MB-H is a continuous track launch tractor which was specifically designed for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, to launch and recover lifeboats from beach-launched lifeboat stations. The tractor was built by Clayton Engineering Limited in Knighton, Powys.
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 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 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. 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.

RNLI Talus MB-H fleet

Op. No.In serviceStationReg No.ImageCurrent lifeboat pay-load
T 911991–presentLlandudnoUAW 558Y Andy Pearce
T 921990–2015IlfracombeA462 AUXMersey-class Spirit of Derbyshire
T 931990–1993
1993–present		Skegness
Rhyl		A496 CUXMersey-class Lil Cunningham
T 941990–presentLlandudno
Pwllheli		B567 FAWMersey-class Lilly and Vincent Anthony
T 951999–presentLytham St AnnesB188 GAWMersey-class Her Majesty The Queen
T 961986–presentWells-next-the-SeaB668 HUJMersey-class Doris M. Mann of Ampthill
T 97Republic of Ireland
T 981993–presentClogher86-D-120010Mersey-class Doris Bleasdale
T 991991–2015HoylakeC82 NUXMersey-class Lady of Hilbre
T 1002009–2010Bembridge
Cover during construction of new Boathouse		D446 RAWMersey-class Peggy & Alex Caird
T 1011988–2015
2015 – present		Bridlington
Ramsey		D335 SUJ Mersey-class Marine Engineer
T 1021993–presentNew QuayE387 VAWMersey-class Frank and Lena Clifford of Stourbridge
T 1031992–presentScarboroughE589 WAWMersey-class Fanny Victoria Wilkinson and Frank Stubbs
T 1051991–2015RamseyFMN 664VMersey-class Ann and James Ritchie - Replaced in 2015 by T101 and sold to Tenby Harbour Authority
T 106
3/2017- present		Filey
Maryport		F760 BUJMersey-class Keep Fit Association
MST Rescue 900 "E-ON Spirit of Maryport" of Maryport Indendent Inshore Rescue
T 1071991–presentFiley
F769 BUJMersey-class Keep Fit Association
T 1082009–2014ExmouthF133 FUJMersey-class Margaret Jean
T 1091992–presentMargateG296 KUXMersey-class Leonard Kent
T 1101991–presentAnstrutherG751 MNTMersey-class Kingdom of Fife
T 111Peel12 22 MNMersey-class Ruby Clery
T 1122017 - PresentFerryside Independent LifeboatH977 SNTRibcraft The Freemason
T 1131994–2015St IvesJ794 VUXMersey-class The Princess Royal
T 1141990–2006
2006–present
Skegness		J126 WUJMersey-class Lincolnshire Poacher
T1151994–presentAldeburghK499 AUXMersey-class Freddie Cooper
T 1161992–2014DungenessK920 DUJMersey-class Pride and Spirit
T 1171991–presentSkegness
Seahouses		L784 JNTMersey-class Grace Darling
T 1181993–presentNewcastleW224 SNTMersey-class Eleanor and Bryant Girling
T 1191991–presentHastingsN470 XAWMersey-class Sealink Endeavour
T 1211992–2019Barmouth DX04 YZGMersey-class The Moira Barrie