BRITISH LIFEBOATS

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BRITISH LIFEBOATS

Post by shipstamps » Wed Sep 10, 2008 5:31 am





The heroes of the sea have been honoured by the British Royal Mail by six stamps issued in 2008, entitled Mayday – Rescue at Sea.
The stamps you can find on: http://www.shipsonstamps.org/Topics/html/marken0803.htm

The first class stamp depict the Barra, Outer Hebrides, Scotland lifeboat EDNA WINDSOR battling through heavy seas and swells. The photo after the stamp was designed was made by Nigel Millard, and taken in the Sound Of Berneray. The photo was taken from the Y class inflatable boat carried on the poop of the lifeboat.

The Barra lifeboat belongs to the Severn class of which till 15 December 2003 forty-six have been built for the British Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). The contract to built the Severn class was awarded in 1992
The class can sail out in all kinds of weather.
The class is named after the River Severn, the longest river in Great Britain.
Her two propellers are protected; she can take ground without damaging them.
The class is not launched but she are always afloat.
Built by Green Marine, Lymington, Hampshire, U.K.

The details of the class are:
Displacement 37.5 tonnes. Dim. 17 x 5.5 x 1.38m.
Powered by two Carterpilar 3412 TA diesel engines each 1.250 bhp., twin propellers, speed 25 knots.
One bow thruster.
Fuel capacity 5.500 liter. Range 250 miles.
Crew 6.
Carried a Y class inflatable boat, which can lowered/hoisted by an on-board crane for use in shallow waters.
The Barra lifeboat arrived at Barra on 22 May 1998.

The class is constructed of fibre reinforced composite material, and the hard chine semi-displacement hull built to a two compartment standard, meaning it can stay afloat with two of her five compartment flooded.
Provisions for survivors include comprehensive first aid equipment including stretchers, oxygen and Entonox.
Fitted out with all modern radio equipment, and an electronic chart system.

2008 The Barra lifeboat is still in service.


The 46p stamp depicts the lifeboat GEORGE GIBSON from Appledore, Devon. The photo was taken also by Nigel Millard when she was on a training exercise over the notorious Bideford Bar, a submerged sandbank around 1 mile of the North Devon coast.

The GEORGE GIBSON is one of the Tyne class:
1988 Delivered to Appledore lifesaving station. Operational No 47-027.
Displacement 25.5 tons, dim. 14.33 x 4.47 x 1.37m. (draught)
Powered by two General Motors diesel engine each 425 hp. twin screws. Speed 17.6 knots.
Bunker capacity 2.780 liters. Range 240 miles.
Crew 6-7 people, and a capacity for 20 survivors.
The Tyne class is an all-weather self-righting lifeboat, and is launched from a slipway when needed.
The propellers are protected by heavy bilge keels, and can hitting bottom or other objects without damaging her propellers.
She is built of steel with an aluminium superstructure.
The first boat was delivered in 1982 and the last in 1990.
They are now gradually replaced by the substantially larger and faster Tamar class lifeboat.
2008 The GEORGE GIBSON is still in service.

The 54p stamp depicts the inshore lifeboat COLIN BRAMLEY PARKER stationed at St Ivis.
The photo after which the stamp is designed is also made by Nigel Millard, and shows her during a training with on board a crew of three off Hayle Towans beach, North Cornwall.

She belongs to the D Class of the RNIL and arrived at St Ives, Cornwall on 05 February 2007.
She was named on 26 May 2007, the ceremony was performed by Diana Saxon, and the ILB was named COLIN BRAMLEY PARKER D668 in memory of her friend Colin Bramley Parker. Diana Saxon was also the sponsor of the boat.

Built by Avon Inflatables, Llanelli.
Length of the boat 4.9 meters, beam 2 meter. Weight 338 kg.

Powered by a Mariner 40hp outboard engine. Max speed 20 knots.
Range 3 hours at full speed.
Crew 3-4 men.
Constructed FRC with Hypalon coated polyester collar
She is one of the new type D-Class called IB1, which were introduced into service in 2003.
She is completely re-engineered version of the old D Class, using new materials, with much improved equipment fit out including a Chart Plotting GPS, and a bigger engine with electric start. These combine to provide a boat which has much better performance in terms of speed, manoeuvrability and navigation capability.

This class of lifeboats is one of the smallest operated by the RNLI, and use on many lifeboat stations around Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
She can be launched from a trolley or with a davit.

HAYDN MILLER is the lifeboat depict on the 78p stamp and stationed in Tenby, she is one of the Tamar Class named after the Tamar River the river between Devon and Cornwall.

She completed trial in July 2005 and was the first in the Tamar class, entered service at Tenby in March 2006.
The Tamar class is built by Green Marine, Lymington, Hampshire and fitted out by Babcock Marine, Devonport.
Constructed of fibre reinforced composite.
Displacement 31.5 ton. Dim. 16 x 5 x 1.35m. (draught).
Powered by two Caterpillar C18 engines, 1.000 hp., twin propellers, speed 25 knots.
Bunker capacity 4.600 litres, range 250 mile.
Carried a Y Class (pre-inflated) inflatable daughter boat housed in a pen recessed into the stern, accessed by lowering the transom, and lifting a section of deck. She can also be equipped with a PWC (jetski) similar to that used by beach lifeguards.
Endurance 10 hours at 25 knots.
Crew 7.
All-weather and self-righting lifeboat.
Launched in Tenby via a slipway, as seen on the stamp.

Source: Wikipedia and other web-sites.

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