Liverpool-class lifeboat
The Liverpool-class lifeboat was a non self-righting boat operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution 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.
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 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 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 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 Self-righting motor introduced in 1929, but had greater beam 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 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 Parsons Penguin diesels. Only one single-engined boat, ON 832, was re-engined with a diesel engine, a Parsons Porbeagle of 47 hp.Fleet
Single screw boats
Twin screw boats
All boats were built by Groves & Guttridge, Cowes except for ON 877 and ON 882.| ON | Name | In service | Principal Station | Comments | - |
| 839 | - | Prototype | Destroyed in an air raid at builders yard 4/5/1942 | - | |
| 850 | Cecil Paine | 1945–1965 1965–1972 1972–1973 | Relief fleet | Sold in 1973 | - |
| 861 | Edgar, George, Orlando and Eva Child | 1948–1968 1968–1970 1970–1975 1975–1982 | Relief fleet Relief fleet | Sold in 1983 | - |
| 862 | Thomas Corbett | 1948–1970 1970–1974 1974–1981 | Sold in 1982. Now in private ownership in Birkenhead. | - | |
| 863 | St. Albans | 1948–1970 | Sold December 1970 | - | |
| 864 | The Chieftain | 1949–1982 | Sold April 1982 | - | |
| 869 | Anthony Robert Marshall | 1949–1968 1968–1972 1972–1979 | Relief fleet | Sold in 1980 | - |
| 870 | William and Laura | 1949–1980 | Sold September 1980 | - | |
| 871 | William Cantrell Ashley | 1949–1968 | Sold in 1968. Now at Hoylake Lifeboat Museum. | - | |
| 872 | J.B. Couper of Glasgow | 1949–1953 1953–1965 1966–1971 1972–1974 1974–1975 | Relief fleet | Sold February 1976 | - |
| 873 | George Elmy | 1950–1962 1963–1969 1969–1972 | Relief fleet | Capsized on service at Seaham 17/11/62. Nine lost. Sold September 1972. Underwent restoration before being displayed in Seaham. | - |
| 874 | Robert Lindsay | 1950–1953 1955–1960 1961–1968 | Capsized on service at Arbroath 27/10/1953. Six lost. Sold in 1968 | - | |
| 875 | Richard Ashley | 1950–1966 | Sold in 1967 | - | |
| 876 | James and Ruby Jackson | 1950–1965 1965–1967 | Relief fleet | Sold in 1969 | - |
| 877 | George and Caroline Ermen | 1950–1974 | Sold July 1974 | - | |
| 882 | B.H.M.H. | 1951–1973 1973–1981 1981–1984 | Relief fleet | Sold in 1985 | - |
| 891 | Bassett-Green | 1951–1962 1962–1969 | No.2 | Sold in 1969 | - |
| 892 | Aguila Wren | 1951–1964 1965–1972 | Sold December 1972 | - | |
| 893 | Clara and Emily Barwell | 1951–1963 1963–1968 | Relief fleet | Sold February 1969 | |
| 894 | Oldham IV | 1952–1970 | Sold October 1970 | - | |
| 895 | Edith Clauson-Thue | 1952–1969 | Sold in 1969 | - | |
| 902 | Constance Calverley | 1952–1965 1965–1970 | Relief fleet | Sold in 1970 | - |
| 903 | Helen Harris - Manchester & District XXXI | 1952–1972 | Sold in 1972 | - | |
| 904 | Robert and Phemia Brown | 19521966 | Sold in 1967 | - | |
| 905 | Katherine and Virgoe Buckland | 1953–1972 | Sold in 1972 | - | |
| 906 | W. Ross MacArthur of Glasgow | 1953–1964 1964–1968 | 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 | - |
| 914 | Tillie Morrison, Sheffield II | 1953–1959 | Sold in 1969 | - | |
| 915 | Friendly Forester | 1953–1983 | Sold in 1984 to the maritime museum at Blackgang Chine. 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. | - | |
| 916 | Mary Noble | 1953–1962 1962–1970 1970–1973 | Relief fleet | Sold in 1974 | - |
| 917 | ISA and Penryn Milsted | 1953–1968 | Sold in 1969 | - | |
| 918 | Eliott Gill | 1953–1970 1970–1974 | Relief fleet | Sold August 1974 | - |
| 927 | Grace Darling | 1954–1967 1967–1971 1971–1984 | Relief fleet | Now at Chatham Historic Dockyard | - |