D-class lifeboat (Zodiac III)

Last updated

Lifeboat drill, Borth 1977 - geograph.org.uk - 1759647.jpg
D-233 being launched at Borth
Class overview
NameD-class (Zodiac III)
Builders Zodiac Nautic
Operators Flag of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.svg RNLI
Preceded by D-class (RFD PB16)
Succeeded by D-class (EA16)
Built1971–1987
In service1971–1996
Completed64
Retired64
General characteristics
Class and typeZodiac III
Complement2 or 3

The D-class (Zodiac III) lifeboat is a class of inflatable boat operated between 1971 and 1996 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution of the United Kingdom and Ireland. It was replaced operationally by the D-class (EA16).

Contents

Utilization

For more than 60 years the D-class has served as the workhorse of the RNLI Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) fleet. The D-class is one of the few RNLI types not to feature a rigid hull. The D-class was specifically designed as a light and highly manoeuvrable rapid response craft, especially suited to close shore work.

RNLI Fleet

Op. No. [lower-alpha 1] NameIn service [1] StationComments
D-205Unnamed1971–1976
1976–1987
Conwy
Relief fleet
D-206Unnamed1971–1974
1974–1975
1976–1987
1987–1992
Relief fleet
Harwich
Relief fleet
Publicity Boat (D-28-P)
D-207Unnamed1972–1974
1974–1988
1988–????
Criccieth
Relief fleet
Publicity Boat (D-29-P)
D-214Unnamed1972–1976
1977–1987
Exmouth
Relief fleet
D-223Unnamed1972–1987Relief fleet
D-224Unnamed1975–1982
1982–1988
1988–????
Stranraer
Relief fleet
Publicity Boat (D-30-P)
D-225Unnamed1975–1976
1977–1978
1978–1986
1986–1987
1987–1988
Moelfre
Harwich
Relief fleet
Southend-on-Sea
Publicity Boat (D-31-P)
D-226Unnamed1975–1982
1982–1988
Hastings
Relief fleet
D-227Unnamed1976–1982
1982–1988
1988–????
Withernsea
Relief fleet
Publicity Boat (D-32-P)
D-228Unnamed1975–1982
1982–1986
1986
1986–1987
1987–????
Craster
Relief fleet
Rhyl
Relief fleet
Publicity Boat (D-33-P)
D-229Unnamed1975–1984
1984–1988
Cullercoats
Relief fleet
D-230Miss Winfield1975–1987
1987
West Kirby
Relief fleet
D-231Unnamed1976–1986
1987
Burnham-on-Crouch
Relief fleet
D-232Unnamed1975–1987
1988
Bude
Publicity Boat (D-4-P)
D-233Unnamed1976–1987 Borth
D-234Unnamed1975–1984
1985–1986
1987
1987–1993
Stonehaven
Amble
Relief fleet
Publicity Boat (D-6-P)
D-235Unnamed1975–1978
1979–1987
1988
St Abbs
Tighnabruaich
Publicity Boat (D-11-P)
D-236Unnamed1975–1987
1988–????
Southend-on-Sea
Publicity Boat
D-237Unnamed1975–1987
1987
1987–1989
Crimdon Dene
Relief fleet
Publicity Boat (D-13-P)
D-238Hemel Hempstead Round Table1976–1987
1987–????
New Quay
Publicity Boat (D-15-P)
D-239Unnamed1976–1987 Conwy
D-240Unnamed1976–1978
1978–1987
1987–1988
Harwich
Relief fleet
Publicity Boat (D-4-P)
D-241Unnamed1976–1986
1986
1987
Rye Harbour
Kilkeel
Relief fleet
D-242Unnamed1976–1987
1987–????
Little and Broad Haven
Publicity Boat
D-243Unnamed1976–1987
1987–1988
1988–1991
Rhyl
Relief fleet
Publicity Boat
D-244Unnamed1976–1987
1987–1988
Bembridge
Publicity Boat
D-245Alick Mackay1976–1985
1985–1988
1988>1994
Kinghorn
Relief fleet
Boarding Boat
D-246Spirit of Rotary1976–1987
1987–1988
Wells-next-the-Sea
Relief fleet
D-247Unnamed1976–1987 Mablethorpe
D-248Unnamed1976–1978
1978–1988
Yarmouth
Relief fleet
D-249Caribbean I1976–1987 Holyhead
D-250Unnamed1977–1988
1988–1993
Llandudno
Publicity Boat (D-4-P)
D-251Unnamed1977–1988 Lytham St Annes
D-252Unnamed1976–1988
1988–????
Flint
Publicity Boat (D-5-P)
D-253Unnamed1976–1988 Sheerness
D-254Unnamed1977–1988 Walmer
D-255Unnamed1977–1987 Exmouth
D-256Lion Cub I1978–1986
1986–1988
St Ives
Relief fleet
D-257Unnamed1978–1988 Port Isaac
D-258Unnamed1978
1981
1983–1984
1986–1988
1986–1994
On Board 70-003
On Board 70-003
On Board 70-003
On Board 70-003
Boarding Boat
D-259S.M.T.A. Shuttle1978–1988
1988–1989
Trearddur Bay
Boarding Boat
D-260Gwynaeth1978–1988
1988–1993
Whitby
Boarding Boat
D-261Unnamed1978–1988
1988>1994
Kippford
Boarding Boat
D-262Clacton Round Table 34841978–1984
1984–1988
1988–1991
Clacton-on-Sea
Relief fleet
Boarding Boat
D-263Unnamed1978–1988On Board 70-002
D-270Unnamed1980–1988 Aldeburgh
D-271Unnamed1980–1988
1988–1989
1989–1993
North Sunderland
Relief fleet
Boarding Boat
D-272Unnamed1980–1983
1983–1989
Criccieth
Relief fleet
D-278Unnamed1980–1984
1984–1989
1989–????
Newquay
Relief fleet
Boarding Boat
D-279Unnamed1981–1989
1989–????
Penarth
Boarding Boat
D-280Unnamed1981–1989
1989–1992
Tynemouth
Publicity Boat (D-2-P)
D-281Sewing Machine Times1981–1989
1989–????
Aberdeen
Publicity Boat (D-9-P)
D-282Unnamed1981–1989
1989–1993
Weston-super-Mare
Boarding Boat
D-283Unnamed1982–1990 Weston-super-Mare
D-287Unnamed1983–1989
1989–????
Stranraer
Publicity Boat
D-288Cinque Ports I1983–1989
1989–????
Hastings
Publicity Boat (D-20-P)
D-289Unnamed1983–1989 Withernsea
D-290Unnamed1983–1989
1989–1990
Craster
Relief fleet
D-312Court Henbury1985–1992
1992–1995
Relief fleet
Publicity Boat
D-313Unnamed1985–1992
1992–1995
Relief fleet
Publicity Boat
D-314Tricentrol I1985–1992
1992–1995
Relief fleet
Publicity Boat
D-340Blue Peter VI1987–1994Relief fleet
D-341Unnamed1987–1988
1988
1989
1989–1993
1993–1994
Relief fleet
Southend-on-Sea
Southend-on-Sea
Relief fleet
Boarding Boat
D-342Unnamed1987–1992
1993–1996
Relief fleet
Boarding Boat
  1. Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat.

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References

  1. Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 72–78.