Liverpool-class lifeboat

The Liverpool-class lifeboat was a non self-righting boat operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) from its stations around the coast of the United Kingdom and Ireland. The boats were designed for carriage launching and there were two types built, single and twin engined.

Former Clovelly, twin engined RNLB William Cantrell Astley (ON 871)
Class overview
Operators: Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Succeeded by: Oakley
Built:
  • Single engine: 1931–1941
  • Twin engine: (1940), 1945–1954
In service: 1931–1984
Completed:
  • Single engine: 28
  • Twin engine: 32
Retired: 60
General characteristics
Type: Motor lifeboat
Displacement: 6-8 tons
Length: 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m)
Propulsion:
  • Single engine: 35 hp (26 kW) Weyburn AE6 Petrol
  • Twin engine: 2 x 18 hp (13 kW) Weyburn AE4 Petrol/20 hp (15 kW) Ferry Kadenacy FKR3 Diesel
Speed: 6.5–7.5 knots (12.0–13.9 km/h; 7.5–8.6 mph)
Range: 70–120 nautical miles (130–220 km)
Crew: 7

History

The Liverpool class, designed by James Barnett, was derived from the 35ft 6in Self-righting motor-class lifeboat and had many similarities with it. Lifeboatmen at many stations preferred non self-righting boats due to their better stability and the Liverpool class was designed to be light enough for carriage launching at these stations. The single-engined version entered service in 1932 and was powered by an RNLI designed, Weyburn Engineering built AE6 six-cylinder 35 horsepower (26 kW) petrol engine mounted in a watertight compartment. Like all early motor lifeboats, the Liverpool class carried an auxiliary sailing rig and had a drop keel just forward of the engine room. 28 boats were built between 1931 and 1941. The introduction of tractors to assist with carriage launching enabled the RNLI to consider a heavier, twin-engined version of the Liverpool class and a prototype was ordered but was destroyed in an air raid at the builder's yard at Cowes in May 1942. Production got underway early in 1945 and the boat was powered by two 18 hp (13 kW) Weyburn AE4 four-cylinder petrol engines mounted in a watertight compartment. The extra redundancy of twin engines reduced the need for auxiliary sails. 31 boats were built between 1945 and 1954, the last 21 of which were powered by 20 hp (15 kW) Ferry Kadenacy FKR3 diesels. The William Cantrell Ashley now July 2017 is in dry standing penarth marina cardiff

Description

The Liverool class was based on the 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) Self-righting motor introduced in 1929, but had greater beam (10 ft (3.0 m) rather than 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m)) and much shallower endboxes. The shelter was extended forward to cover the engine compartment, which was watertight and allowed the engine to continue to operate as long as the air intake was not submerged. The single propeller was protected by the keel. The twin-engined variant was visually very similar but had 8 in (20 cm) more beam and the twin propellers were in protective tunnels. In the mid 1960s the petrol engines in the first ten boats were replaced by 47 hp (35 kW) Parsons Penguin diesels (as were a couple of the Ferry engined boats). Only one single-engined boat, ON 832, was re-engined with a diesel engine, a Parsons Porbeagle of 47 hp.

Fleet

Single screw boats
ON[lower-alpha 1] Name Built Builder In service Principal Station Comments
750 Oldham 1931 Groves & Guttridge, Cowes 1931–1952 Hoylake Sold in 1952
760 Anne Allan[1] 1932 Thorneycroft, Chiswick 1932–1953 Skegness[2] Sold in 1953
764 Nellie and Charlie 1933 J. Samuel White, Cowes 1933–1950 Anstruther Sold April 1951
765 Fifi and Charles 1933 J. Samuel White, Cowes 1933–1962 Weston-super-Mare Sold October 1962
766 The Always Ready 1933 J. Samuel White, Cowes 1933–1954 Runswick Sold May 1954
770 Harriot Dixon 1934 Groves & Guttridge, Cowes 1934–1964 Cromer No.2 Sold December 1964
771 The Three Sisters 1934 J. Samuel White, Cowes 1934–1954 Coverack Sold in 1954
772 Elizabeth and Albina Whitley 1934 Groves & Guttridge, Cowes 1934–1948
1948–1952		 Flamborough
Relief fleet		 Sold January 1953
773 Joseph Braithwaite 1934 J. Samuel White, Cowes 1934–1949
1950–1952		 Maryport
Relief fleet		 Sold December 1952
781 W.R.A. 1935 J. Samuel White, Cowes 1936–1954
1954–1958		 North Sunderland
Relief fleet		 Sold in 1958
782 Margaret Dawson 1935 J. Samuel White, Cowes 1936–1955
1955–		 Gourdon
Relief fleet
786 Foresters Centenary 1936 Groves & Guttridge, Cowes 1936–1961 Sheringham Sold 1961. Now in a museum in Sheringham
791 Elizabeth Wills Allen 1936 J. Samuel White, Cowes 1936–1950
1950–1953		 Seaham Harbour
Relief fleet		 Sold February 1953
792 Annie Ronald and Isabella Forrest 1936 J. Samuel White, Cowes 1936–1949
1949–1956
1956–1958
1959–1964		 St Abbs
Relief fleet
Scarborough
Llandudno		 Sold March 1965
793 Clarissa Langdon 1937 J. Samuel White, Cowes 1937–1962
1963
1963–1965		 Boulmer
Seaham Harbour
Relief fleet		 Sold March 1965
794 Richard Silver Oliver 1937 J. Samuel White, Cowes 1937–1939
1940–1945
1945–1952
1953–1961
1961–1963		 Cullercoats
Newquay
Ilfracombe
Criccieth
Relief fleet		 Capsized on exercise at Cullercoats 22/4/39. 6 lost.

Sold in 1963

795 Frank and William Oates 1937 Groves & Guttridge, Cowes 1937–1951
1952–1956
1956–1964		 Exmouth
Girvan
Relief fleet
796 Herbert John 1937 Groves & Guttridge, Cowes - Cloughey Destroyed by fire at builders yard 18/6/37
797 Howard D 1937 Saunders-Roe, Cowes 1937–1948
1948–1953
1953–1956
1956–1964		 St Helier
Flamborough
Arbroath
Relief fleet		 Under enemy control at St. Helier 1940-1945. Sold in 1964.

Located at the Maritime Museum in Jersey.[3]

798 Ann Isabella Pyemont 1937 Groves & Guttridge, Cowes 1937–1965 Kilmore Quay Sold 1966
799 Helen Sutton 1937 Saunders-Roe, Cowes 1937–1952
1952–1958		 Peel
Relief fleet		 Sold in 1958
800 Sarah Ann Austin 1937 Groves & Guttridge, Cowes 1937–1961
1962–1965		 Blackpool
Relief fleet		 Sold August 1965
825 Herbert John 1939 Groves & Guttridge, Cowes 1939–1952
1952–1966		 Cloughey
Youghal		 Sold in 1966. Now in private ownership.[4]
827 George and Elizabeth Gow 1939 Morgan Giles, Teignmouth 1939–1943
1943–1946
1947–1962
1962–1964		 Aberdeen No.2
Royal Air Force
Aberdeen No.2
Relief fleet		 Used by RAF as a rescue craft in the Azores 1943-1946.

Sold in 1965

831 Caroline Oates Aver and William Maine 1939 Groves & Guttridge 1940–1948
1948–1960		 St Ives
Ferryside		 Sold July 1960
832 Lucy Lavers 1939 Groves & Guttridge, Cowes 1940–1959
1959–1968		 Aldeburgh
Relief fleet		 This Lifeboat was one of the Little Ships of

the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940. Sold 1968. Located in Wells-Next-The-Sea Norfolk. Full restored in use as a tour boat.

833 The Cuttle 1940 Groves & Guttridge, Cowes 1940–1953
1953–1964
1964–1966		 Filey
Skegness
Relief fleet		 Sold August 1966
834 Jose Neville 1941 Groves & Guttridge, Cowes 1941–1964
1964–1966		 Caister
Relief fleet		 Sold August 1966. Now a fishing vessel named Concorde in Southwold.[5]

Twin screw boats

All boats were built by Groves & Guttridge, Cowes except for ON 877 (J. Samuel White, Cowes) and ON 882 (Rowhedge Ironworks, Rowhedge).

ON[lower-alpha 1] Name In service Principal Station Comments
839 (W. and B.) - Prototype Destroyed in an air raid at builders yard 4/5/1942
850 Cecil Paine 1945–1965
1965–1972
1972–1973		 Wells
Kilmore Quay
Relief fleet		 Sold in 1973
861 Edgar, George, Orlando and Eva Child 1948–1968
1968–1970
1970–1975
1975–1982		 St Ives
Relief fleet
Blackpool
Relief fleet		 Sold in 1983
862 Thomas Corbett 1948–1970
1970–1974
1974–1981		 Ramsey
Hoylake
Clogher Head		 Sold in 1982. Now in private ownership in Birkenhead.[6]
863 St. Albans 1948–1970 New Quay Sold December 1970
864 The Chieftain 1949–1982 Barmouth Sold April 1982
869 Anthony Robert Marshall 1949–1968
1968–1972
1972–1979		 Rhyl
Relief fleet
Abersoch		 Sold in 1980
870 William and Laura 1949–1980 Newcastle Sold September 1980
871 William Cantrell Ashley 1949–1968 Clovelly Sold in 1968. Now at Hoylake Lifeboat Museum.[7]
872 J.B. Couper of Glasgow 1949–1953
1953–1965
1966–1971
1972–1974
1974–1975		 St Abbs
Kirkcudbright
Youghal
Poole
Relief fleet		 Sold February 1976
873 George Elmy 1950–1962
1963–1969
1969–1972		 Seaham Harbour
Relief fleet
Poole		 Capsized on service at Seaham 17/11/62. Nine lost. Sold September 1972.
Underwent restoration before being displayed in Seaham.[8]
874 Robert Lindsay 1950–1953
1955–1960
1961–1968		 Arbroath
Girvan
Criccieth		 Capsized on service at Arbroath 27/10/1953. Six lost. Sold in 1968
875 Richard Ashley 1950–1966 Newbiggin Sold in 1967
876 James and Ruby Jackson 1950–1965
1965–1967		 Anstruther
Relief fleet		 Sold in 1969
877 George and Caroline Ermen 1950–1974 Clogher Head Sold July 1974
882 B.H.M.H. 1951–1973
1973–1981
1981–1984		 Minehead
Relief fleet
Clogher Head		 Sold in 1985
891 Bassett-Green 1951–1962
1962–1969		 Padstow No.2
Poole		 Sold in 1969
892 Aguila Wren 1951–1964
1965–1972		 Aberystwyth
Redcar		 Sold December 1972
893 Clara and Emily Barwell 1951–1963
1963–1968		 Eyemouth
Relief fleet		 Sold February 1969
894 Oldham IV 1952–1970 Hoylake Sold October 1970
895 Edith Clauson-Thue 1952–1969 Gourdon Sold in 1969
902 Constance Calverley 1952–1965
1965–1970		 Cloughey
Relief fleet		 Sold in 1970
903 Helen Harris - Manchester & District XXXI 1952–1972 Peel Sold in 1972
904 Robert and Phemia Brown 19521966 Ilfracombe Sold in 1967
905 Katherine and Virgoe Buckland 1953–1972 Pwllheli Sold in 1972
906 W. Ross MacArthur of Glasgow 1953–1964
1964–1968		 St Abbs
Relief fleet		 Sold February 1969. Later to Caister Lifeboat and renamed Shirley Jean Ayde in 1973.
Sold to Pembroke Dock Authority and renamed Mariners Friend in 1992.
Sold into private ownership 1994[9]
914 Tillie Morrison, Sheffield II 1953–1959 Llandudno[10] Sold in 1969
915 Friendly Forester 1953–1983 Flamborough Sold in 1984 to the maritime museum at Blackgang Chine.[11] But has since returned to Flamborough and is on display at Haven's Thornwick Bay Holiday Village, located on the northern outskirts of the village.[12]
916 Mary Noble 1953–1962
1962–1970
1970–1973		 Exmouth
Blackpool
Relief fleet		 Sold in 1974
917 ISA and Penryn Milsted 1953–1968 Filey Sold in 1969
918 Eliott Gill 1953–1970
1970–1974		 Runswick
Relief fleet		 Sold August 1974
927 Grace Darling 1954–1967
1967–1971
1971–1984		 North Sunderland
Relief fleet
Youghal		 Now at Chatham Historic Dockyard[13]
  1. ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.

References
  1. "National Register of Historic Vessels – Anne Allan". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  2. Skegness Lifeboats – An illustrated History. Author: Leach, Nicholas. Publisher:Landmark Publishing Ltd. Year Published:2008. Work: Page 117, Appendices – list of Skegness Lifeboats. ISBN 978-1-84306-423-7
  3. "National Register of Historic Vessels - Howard D". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  4. "National Register of Historic Vessels - Herbert John". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  5. "Caister Lifeboats - Jose Neville". Caster Lifeboat. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  6. "National Register of Historic Vessels - Thomas Corbett". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  7. "Historic 'Liverpool Class' lifeboat at Albert Dock Pirate Festival". Bay TV Life Liverpool. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  8. "National Register of Historic Vessels - George Elmy". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  9. "Caster Lifeboats - Shirley Jean Ayde". Caster Lifeboat. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  10. "Tillie Morrison Sheffield II". Llandudno Lifeboat. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  11. "National Register of Historic Vessels - Friendly Forester". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  12. "Lifeboat returns to coast after three decades away". 7 November 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  13. "National Register of Historic Vessels - Grace Darling". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
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