| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | D-class (Avon S650) |
| Builders | Avon Inflatables |
| Operators |  Royal National Lifeboat Institution |
| Preceded by | D-class (RFD PB16) |
| Succeeded by | D-class (Zodiac III) |
| Built | 1971 |
| In service | 1971–1986 |
| Completed | 4 |
| Retired | 4 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Avon S650 |
| Length | 5 m (16 ft) |
| Beam | 2 m (6.6 ft) |
| Propulsion | 1 × 40 hp Evinrude outboard engine |
| Speed | 20 knots (23 mph; 37 km/h) |
| Endurance | 3 hours at full speed |
| Capacity | 10 |
The D-class lifeboat (Avon S650) was a sub-class of 4 inflatable boats operated as part of the D-class between 1971 and 1986 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution of the United Kingdom and Ireland. It was superseded by the D-class lifeboat (Zodiac III).[1]
Utilization
There were only 4 Avon S650 utilised by the RNLI as part of the D-class, the workhorse of the RNLI inshore lifeboat (rescue) (ILB) fleet. Significantly smaller in comparison to the rest of the inshore fleet, the D-class is also one of the few RNLI types not to feature a rigid hull. The main aspect of the boat would be both its size and weight, the D-class was specifically designed as a light and highly manoeuvrable rapid response craft.
Design and construction
The D-class lifeboat consists of two sponsons, together housing four inflatable segments intersected by baffles.[2]
This was one of the smaller classes of lifeboat operated by the RNLI, and while there were only 4 Avon S650s in the fleet, the D-class were a common sight at lifeboat stations around the coast. Unlike other members of the ILB fleet, the D-class does not have a rigid hull; all others, with the exception of the Arancia, hovercraft and ALB Tenders, are Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs).
Fleet
| Op. No.[lower-alpha 1] | Name | In service | Principal Station |
|---|---|---|---|
| D-201 | unnamed | 1971–1973 | Harwich |
- ↑ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat.
References
- ↑ Leach, Nicholas (December 2009). Harwich Lifeboats: An Illustrated History. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 9781445623498. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
- ↑ "Avon S650". Avon. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
External links
