Talus Atlantic 85 DO-DO launch carriage

The Talus Atlantic 85 DO-DO launch carriage is a drive on - drive off lifeboat launch and recovery carriage used by the RNLI to launch its Atlantic class inshore lifeboats.

Talus Atlantic 85 DO-DO launch carriage
Talus Atlantic 85 DO-DO launch carriage
Type	Launch carriage
Manufacturer	Clayton Engineering Limited[1]
Length	8.3 m (330 in)
Weight	2.4 Tonnes maximum ballasted weight.

Design

The design is by Clayton Engineering Limited,^[2] who worked with the RNLI to produce the launch system. The carriage works in conjunction with Talus tractors which are used to deploy the Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboats. There are three versions of the carriage which includes a standard carriage and the option of a hydraulic power pack so that the angle of the launch can be changed to suit the conditions. The carriage launch platform has a main bed which elevates through 10° to achieve this feature. The third variant of the carriage has the elevation bed mounted on a rail carriage system.

Operation

Under normal launch conditions the lifeboat is loaded with its bow to the rear of the carriage to allow faster deployment. When the lifeboat is recovered it reverses back on to the launch bed.^[3] Depending on the sea condition the helmsman require good seamanship to achieve this.

Carriage fleet

Op.No.[a]	In service[4]	Station	Image	Lifeboat payload	Comments
C-DD-001		Mudeford		Atlantic 85 Henrietta H (B-948)
C-DD-002		Cullercoats		Atlantic 85 Daddy's Girl (B-935)
C-DD-003		Newquay		Atlantic 85 Uncle Johnny (B-936)
C-DD-004		Flamborough		Atlantic 85 Elizabeth Jane Palmer (B-820)
C-DDR-005-P (Hydraulic Launch Cradle)		Port Erin		Atlantic 85 Muriel and Leslie (B-813)
C-DDR-006 (Hydraulic Launch Cradle)		Kirkcudbright		Atlantic 85 Sheila Stenhouse (B-814)
C-DDA-007-S		Sheringham		Atlantic 85 The Oddfellows (B-818)	[5]
C-DDA-008-PT	2012	Aberystwyth		Atlantic 85 Florence and Ernest Bowles (B-937)
C-DDA-009-S		Rye Harbour		Atlantic 85 Hello Herbie II (B-900)
C-DDA-010		Criccieth		Atlantic 85 Frank Townley (B-938)
C-DDA-011-P		Walmer		Atlantic 85 Hounslow Branch (B-950)
C-DDA-012-P		Blackpool		Atlantic 85 William and Eleanor (B-867)
C-DDA-013		Silloth		Atlantic 85 Elaine and Don Wilkinson (B-828)
C-DD-014		Hayling Island		Atlantic 85 Derrick Battle (B-829)
C-DD-015		Margate		Atlantic 85 Colonel Stock (B-930)
C-DD-016		Bundoran		Atlantic 85 William Henry Liddington (B-834)
C-DD-017		Red Bay		Atlantic 85 Geoffrey Charles (B-843)
C-DD-019		Kinghorn		Atlantic 85 Tommy Niven (B-836)
C-DD-020		Penarth		Atlantic 85 Maureen Lilian (B-839)
C-DDA-021		St Bees[6]		Atlantic 85 Joy Morris MBE (B-831)
C-DD-023		Trearddur Bay		Atlantic 85 Hereford Endeavour (B-847)
C-DD-024		Beaumaris		Atlantic 85 Annette Mary Liddington (B-838)
C-DDA-025		Criccieth		Atlantic 85 Frank Townley (B-938)
C-DD-026		Hunstanton		Atlantic 85 Spirit of West Norfolk (B-848)
C-DD-027		Redcar		Atlantic 85 Leicester Challenge III (B-858)
C-DDA-028-P[3]		New Brighton[7]		Atlantic 85 Charles Dibdin (Civil Service No. 51) (B-837)
C-DD-029		Tighnabruaich		Atlantic 85 James and Helen Mason (B-862)
C-DD-030		Kilrush		Atlantic 85 Edith Louise Eastwick (B-844)
C-DD-031		Lyme Regis		Atlantic 85 Spirit of Loch Fyne (B-857)
C-DD-032		Lough Swilly		Atlantic 85 Minnie and Ernest George Barry (B-819)
C-DD-033		Appledore		Atlantic 85 Glaneley (B-861)
C-DD-034		Largs		Atlantic 85 R. A. Wilson (B-854)
C-DD-037		Clacton-on-Sea		Atlantic 85 David Porter MPS (B-863)
C-DDA-038		Newbiggin[8]		Atlantic 85 Richard Wake Burdon (B-864)
C-DD-040		Skerries		Atlantic 85 Louis Simson (B-866)
C-DD-041		Clifden		Atlantic 85 Joyce King (B-869)
C-DD-042		Cardigan		Atlantic 85 Albatross (B-871)
C-DD-043		Kessock		Atlantic 85 Robert and Isobel Mowat (B-873)
C-DD-044-P		Baltimore		Atlantic 85 Rita Daphne Smyth (B-910)
C-DD-045		Clovelly		Atlantic 85 Toby Rundle (B-872)
C-DD-046		Arran		Atlantic 85 Rachael Hedderwick (B-876)
C-DD-047		Whitstable		Atlantic 85 Lewisco (B-877)
C-DDA-048-S		Minehead		Atlantic 85 Penny J II (B-939)
C-DD-049		Portishead		Atlantic 85 My Lady Anne (B-884)
C-DD-050		Abersoch		Atlantic 85 Peter and Ann Setten (B-886)
C-DD-051		Mablethorpe		Atlantic 85 Jacqueline Saville (B-887)
C-DD-052		Youghal		Atlantic 85 Gordon and Phil (B-890)
C-DD-053		Looe		Atlantic 85 Sheila & Dennis Tongue II (B-894)
C-DD-054		Aberdovey		Atlantic 85 Hugh Miles (B-896)
C-DD-055		Staithes and Runswick		Atlantic 85 Sheila & Dennis Tongue III (B-897)
C-DD-056		Filey		Atlantic 85 Marjorie Shepherd (B-928)
C-DDA-057-P	????–2023 2024–	Happisburgh Aldeburgh		Atlantic 85 Ralph (B-949)
C-DD-058		Burnham-on-Sea		Atlantic 85 Doris Day and Brian (B-914)
C-DDA-059		Burry Port		Atlantic 85 The Missus Barrie (B-915)
C-DDA-060		Porthcawl		Atlantic 85 Rose Of The Shires (B-832)
C-DD-061		St Catherine		Atlantic 85 Eric W Wilson (B-841)
C-DD-062		Weston-super-Mare		Atlantic 85 Douglas Murray (B-830)
C-DD-064		Littlestone-on-Sea		Atlantic 85 Jean McIvor (B-922)

1. Op.No. is the RNLI's operational number of the carriage.

See also

• Talus MB-H amphibious tractor
• Talus MB-764 amphibious tractor
• Talus MB-4H amphibious tractor
• RNLI New Holland TC45 launch tractor