Wikipedia

Talus MB-764 amphibious tractor

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]

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)

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.

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-764 fleet

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Current Location

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Op. No.[a] Reg No. Station In service[5] Image Current Pay-load Comments
TW01 XTK 150M New Brighton 1974–1987 Atlantic 85
Claude and Kath (B-947)
Cardigan 1987–1995
Relief fleet 1995–1996
St Bees 1996–2000
Relief fleet 2000–2002
J 72200 St Catherine 2002–2010
XTK 150M Relief fleet 2010–2011
Trearddur Bay 2011–2020
Relief fleet 2020–2024
Teignmouth 2024–
TW02 LRU 581P Relief fleet 1976 Atlantic 85
Rachael Hedderwick (B-876)
Beaumaris 1976–1987
Cardigan 1987
Abersoch 1988–1997
Silloth 1998–2003
Relief fleet 2003–2004
Lyme Regis 2004–2014
Relief fleet 2014–2015
Weston-super-Mare 2015–2023
Relief fleet 2023–2024
Portishead 2024–2025
Arran (Lamlash) 2025–
TW03 RLJ 367R Blackpool 1977–1979 Atlantic 85
Spirit of Loch Fyne (B-857)
Relief fleet 1979–1981
Newbiggin 1981
Relief fleet 1981–1986
St Ives 1986–1991
Rye Harbour 1991–1992
Aberystwyth 1992–1996
Relief fleet 1996–1998
Arran (Lamlash) 1998–2004
Relief fleet 2004–2005
Largs 2005–2012
Kinghorn 2012–2014
Kessock 2015–2016
Relief fleet 2016–2017
Kinghorn 2017–2022
Relief fleet 2022–2023
Lyme Regis 2023–
TW04 TEL 705R Whitstable 1977–1994 Atlantic 85
Eric W Wilson (B-841)
Cardigan 1995–2002
Trearddur Bay 2002–2010
Relief fleet 2010–2011
Kinghorn 2011–2012
Relief fleet 2012–2014
Kinghorn 2014–2017
Relief fleet 2017–2019
J 93085 St Catherine 2019–
TW05 UJT 151S Littlestone-on-Sea 1977–1978 D-class (IB1)
Geoff Pierce (D-903)
Staithes and Runswick 1978–1987
Relief fleet 1987–1991
St Ives 1991–1995
Trearddur Bay 1996–2002
Mudeford 2002–2006
Relief fleet 2006–2007
Weston-super-Mare 2007–2011
Rhyl 2012–
TW06 VRU 611S Abersoch 1978–1988 D-class (IB1)
James and Deanna Adams (D-889)
BMN 476L Peel 1988–1992
VRU 611S Largs 1992–1997
Kinghorn 1998–2003
Relief fleet 2003–2004
Barmouth 2004
Bude 2004–2007
Cleethorpes 2007–
TW07 MAN 49W Peel 1978–1988 Atlantic 85
Louis Simson (B-866)		 [6][7]
XLJ 796S St Bees 1989–1996
Abersoch 1997–2003
88-D-43711 Skerries 2003–
TW08 D508 RUJ Littlestone-on-Sea 1979–1994 Atlantic 85
Edith Louise Eastwick (B-844)		 [8][9]
87-CE-3065 Lough Swilly 1995–1996
D508 RUJ Beaumaris 1996–2000
87-CE-3065 Kilrush 2001–
TW09 PEL 169W Newbiggin 1981–1992 Atlantic 85
The Missus Barrie (B-915)
Staithes and Runswick 1992–1993
Atlantic College 1994–2002
Abersoch 2003–2009
J 93085 St Catherine 2010–2019
PEL 169W Relief fleet 2019–2022
Burry Port 2022–
TW10 VEL 99X Hunstanton 1982–1992 Atlantic 85
Glaneley (B-861)
Relief fleet 1992–1994
Kinghorn 1994–1998
Relief fleet 1998–2002
Training(Instow) 2003–2006
Relief fleet 2006–2008
Beaumaris 2008–2010
Relief fleet 2010–2012
Largs 2012–2013
Relief fleet 2013–2017
Appledore 2017–
TW11 B251 HUX Relief fleet 1985–1986 Atlantic 85
David Bradley (B-882)		 [10]
Redcar 1986–1987
Staithes and Runswick 1987–1992
Criccieth 1992–1997
Largs 1997–1998
Staithes and Runswick 1998–2003
Training (Instow) 2006–2007
Barrow 2007–2008
Shoreham Harbour 2008–2010
Relief fleet 2010–2012
Weston-super-Mare 2012–2015
Relief fleet 2015–2016
Lymington 2016–
TW12 D508 RUJ Kinghorn 1987–1994 Atlantic 85
Annette Mary Liddington (B-838)
– St Catherine 1995–1997
BPR 667T Relief fleet 1997–2000
Beaumaris 2000–2008
Hayling Island 2008–2018
Relief fleet 2019–2012
Beaumaris 2021–
TW13 D948 SAW Beaumaris 1987–1996 Atlantic 85
Elaine and Don Wilkinson (B-828)
St Catherine 1997–2002
Red Bay 2002–2009
Relief fleet 2009–2010
Beaumaris 2010–2021
Relief fleet 2021–2024
Silloth 2024–
TW14 D659 TNT New Brighton 1987–1990 Atlantic 85
James and Helen Mason (B-862)
J 15014 St Catherine 1991–1995
87-D-38843 Youghal 1996–1999
D659 TNT Relief fleet 1999–2001
87-D-38843 Lough Swilly 2001–2007
D659 TNT Relief fleet 2007–2009
West Mersea 2009–2019
Relief fleet 2019–2020
Burry Port 2020–2022
Relief fleet 2022–2023
Tighnabruaich 2023–
TW15 E592 WNT Redcar 1987–1991 Atlantic 85
Derrick Battle (B-829)		 [11]
Relief fleet 1991–1992
Sheringham 1992–1994
Silloth 1994–1998
Largs 1998–2005
Relief fleet 2005–2007
Appledore 2007–2017
Relief fleet 2017–2018
Hayling Island 2018–
TW30 L123 HUX Staithes and Runswick 1993–1998 Atlantic 85
Geoffrey Charles (B-843)		 [12][13]
Relief fleet 1998–1999
Youghal 1999–2005
Relief fleet 2005–2006
Lymington 2006–2016
Training 2016–2017
Relief fleet 2018–2019
Red Bay 2019–
TW31 L526 JUJ Littlestone-on-Sea 1994–1999
Relief fleet 1999–2004
Barmouth 2004–2006
Rhyl 2006–2008
Relief fleet 2008–2009
Red Bay 2009–2019
Relief fleet 2019–2021
Lough Swilly 2021–2022
Relief fleet 2022–
TW32 L161 LAW Whitstable 1994–2000 Atlantic 85
Tommy Niven (B-836)
Relief fleet 2000–2003
Penlee 2003–2014
Relief fleet 2014–2018
Burry Port 2018–2020
Relief fleet 2020–2022
Kinghorn 2022–
TW33 M562 OUX Lough Swilly 1996–2001 Atlantic 85
Henrietta H (B-948)
Relief fleet 2001–2002
Rhyl 2002–2006
Mudeford 2006–
TW34 M71 RUX Kilrush 1996–2001 Atlantic 85
Robert and Isobel Mowat (B-873)
Relief fleet 2001–2002
Kessock 2002–2015
Relief fleet 2015–2016
Kessock 2016–
TW35 N506 WNT Red Bay 1996–2002 Atlantic 85
Alexander (B-875)
Tighnabruaich 2002–2012
Silloth 2013–2024
Relief fleet 2024–2025
Weston-super-Mare 2025–
TW38 N469 XAW Skerries 1997–2003 Atlantic 85
Peter and Ann Setten (B-886)		 [14]
Silloth 2003–2013
Relief fleet 2013–2016
Abersoch 2017–
TW39 N687 YAW Lyme Regis 1997–2004 Atlantic 85
Joyce King (B-869)		 [15][16]
96-D-61119 Clifden 2004–
TW40 P472 CUJ Aberystwyth 1996–2002
Relief fleet 2002–2003
Kinghorn 2003–2011
Weston-super-Mare 2011–2012
Tighnabruaich 2012–2023
Weston-super-Mare 2023–2025
Relief fleet 2025–
TW41 P301 DAW Tighnabruaich 1997–2002 Atlantic 85
My Lady Anne (B-884)
Relief fleet 2002–2004
Arran (Lamlash) 2004–2013
Relief fleet 2013–2015
Portishead 2015–2024
Relief fleet 2024–2025
Portishead 2025–
TW42 97-G-8631 Clifden 1998–2004 Atlantic 85
Gordon and Phil (B-890)		 [17][18]
R473 UUX Relief fleet 2004–2005
97-G-8631 Youghal 2005–
TW43 S540 UNT Hayling Island 1998–2008 Atlantic 85
Just George (B-879)
Relief fleet 2008–2009
Abersoch 2009–2017
Relief fleet 2018–2019
West Mersea 2019–
TW44 S193 RUJ Appledore 2000–2007 Atlantic 85
Hereford Endeavour (B-847)
Relief fleet 2007–2008
Rhyl 2008–2010
Burry Port 2010–2018
Relief fleet 2018–2020
Trearddur Bay 2020–
TW47 T315 FLG Lymington 2000–2006 Atlantic 85
Davdot (B-958)		 [19][20]
Relief fleet 2006–2007
99-D-87952 Lough Swilly 2007–2021
Relief fleet 2021–2022
Lough Swilly 2022–
TW48 V281 EUJ West Mersea 2000–2009
Relief fleet 2009–2010
Trearddur Bay 2010–2011
Relief fleet 2011–2012
Southwold 2012–2013
Arran (Lamlash) 2013–2025
Relief fleet 2025–
TW63 DS13 LGW Largs 2013–2025
Relief fleet 2025–
TW64 HG63 VAO Lyme Regis 2014–2023 Atlantic 85
R. A. Wilson (B-854)
Relief fleet 2023–2025
Largs 2025–
  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. 1 2 Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2026). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2026. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society. pp. 90–92.
  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 9780951365694
  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.
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