D-class lifeboat (Dunlop)

Class overview
Name	D-class (Dunlop)
Operators	Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Preceded by	D-class (RFD PB16)
Succeeded by	D-class (RFD PB16)
Built	1965–1967
In service	1965–1974
Completed	11
Retired	11
General characteristics
Class & type	Dunlop
Complement	2 or 3

The D-class (Dunlop) lifeboat is a class of inflatable boat operated between 1964 and 1969 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution of the United Kingdom and Ireland.

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. [a]	Name	In service [1]	Station	Comments
D-59	Unnamed		Trials
D-60	Unnamed	1965–1966	Southend-on-Sea
D-61	Unnamed	1965 1966 1966–1968	Mablethorpe Southend-on-Sea Eastbourne
D-62	Unnamed	1965–1966 1967–1969	Moelfre Southend-on-Sea
D-63	Unnamed	1967	Southend-on-Sea
D-64	Unnamed	1965	Kinghorn
D-65	Unnamed	1965 1966 1967 1967–1970 1970 1970–1974	West Mersea|Kinghorn|Kinghorn|Relief fleet|Kippford|Relief fleet
D-66	Unnamed	1965–1968	Helensburgh
D-67	Unnamed	1965 1965–1966	Moelfre Mablethorpe
D-68	Unnamed	1965 1965–1967	Scarborough Kinghorn
D-69	Unnamed	1965–1967	Poole

1. Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat.

References

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