The Clayton RNLI tractor was a continuous track amphibious launch tractor, specifically adapted for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), to launch and recover carriage mounted lifeboats, from beach-launched lifeboat stations.

A total of 18 tractors were constructed by Clayton & Shuttleworth of Stamp End Works, Lincoln, between 1921 and 1927. A further three were never completed.

History Following the end of World War I, the RNLI turned its attention to making it easier to launch shore based lifeboats. The use of horses for farming was in decline, and it was becoming increasingly difficult, and more costly, to find a team of horses and men to help launch the lifeboat, causing unacceptable delays.

At a meeting of the RNLI committee of management in January 1920, it was decided to trial a caterpillar tractor, of a type which had proven itself during World War I. Taking advice from Mr F. A. Standen of St Ives, Cambridgeshire, a name now synonymous with agricultural machinery, a 35-hp Clayton Chain-rail tractor was chosen for evaluation.

Five days of trials commenced on Friday 26 March 1920, taking place at Hunstanton, where a variety of type of beach could be found. The tractor performed above all expectations on the first day. On day two, the tractor had no problems towing a 7-ton 3-cwt load, in the form of a lifeboat and carriage, at its top speed of , over the sandy beach. However, difficulties were encountered on day three whilst attempting to traverse the sand dunes, resolved following the fitting of six "spuds" (grouser) to each of the tracks.

Things didn't quite go to plan on day four, as the 'un-marinised' tractor unit became waterlogged, after the flywheel covered the engine in seawater, during an attempted launch. As the tide receded some hours later, the tractor was drawn to higher ground by some 70–80 people, where repairs took place. Tractors would be made "seaworthy" with only a few modifications, the magneto and carburettor enclosed in a water-tight compartment, water-tight spark-plug terminals, a splash guard for the flywheel, and the exhaust pipe protruding the bonnet.

Final day trials took place at on the shingle shore at Heacham, proving the expected result that the unit was not suited to such terrain, requiring further investigation for a tractor suited to those conditions and stations.

Following these "successful" trials, the RNLI placed an order for 20 tractors with Clayton & Shuttleworth. The first tractor (T1) was trialled on 23 February 1921 at St Ives; The now waterproof plug terminals giving no problems, and tests in the River Ouse successfully submerged the magneto box to a depth of .

A second unit (T2), fitted with tracks with rubber pads, was easily drawn across London from the Poplar storage facility to the RNLI Annual General Meeting at Central Hall, Westminster, where it was inspected by the then Prince of Wales. However, later trials at still proved unsatisfactory, prompting further development work on track design.

On 11 February 1923, the lifeboat was launched twice, to the steam trawler Dinorah. It was estimated that the use of the tractor saved at least three hours of launch time. Just 15 days later, the lifeboat was drawn along the shore by the tractor, when the water in the harbour was too low to launch.

Just 18 Clayton tractors were completed for the RNLI. The company of Clayton & Shuttleworth failed in 1928, being taken over by Marshall, Sons & Co. of Gainsborough. However, no further orders were placed. In 1927, the RNLI had placed an order for the next four tractors, a much more powerful unit, with the Four Wheel Drive Lorry Company (FWD) of Slough.

At this time, no examples of the Clayton RNLI tractor are known to survive.

Clayton RNLI tractor fleet Op. No. Reg No. Built Station CommentsT1TC 6481921 1921 1921 1922–1925 1925–1927 DepotT21921 1921 1921 1922 1922 1924–1930 1930–1938 DepotT3MA 67931921 1921–1928 1928–1931 Depot 1931–1938 1938–1939 Cromer No. 2T4XA 91921923 1923–1931 1931 1931–1933 1933–1938 1939–1950 1950–1951 1951–1953 DepotT5IJ 34241921 1922–1930 1930–1932 Depot 1932–1944 1944–1947 Aberdeen No.2 1947 1947–1950 1950–1951 (storage) 1951–1954 1954–1955 Depot T6 DM 3318 1921 1921–1938 T7AF 42151921 1921–1923 1924–1932 1932–1938 Reserve 1938 Cromer No.2 1938–1950 ReserveT8AF 42561921 1921–1923 1923–1925 Depot 1925–1938 Aberdeen No.2T9BE 99141922 1922–1931 1931–1937 1937–1939 DepotT10AH 92131923 1923–1935 1936–1947 Montrose No.2 1947–1949 DepotT11BT 44141921 1921–1922 1922–1923 1923–1930 Reserve 1930–1937 T12IJ 5658LLY 751924 1924–1933 1933–1937 1937–1938 1938–1940 1941–1944 1944–1946 Depot 1946–1948 1948–1950 1950–1951 Depot 1951–1953 1953–1955 Depot T13 T14XW 20751925 1925–1932 1932–1933 Depot 1933–1946 1946–1947 Depot 1947–1950 Montrose No.2 1952–1954 (Reserve) 1954–1955 T15FU 48921925 1925–1932 1933–1949 1949–1950 T16YW 33771926 1927–1929 1930–1932 1932–1937 1937–1940 1940–1942 1942–1944 Depot 1944–1949 1949–1954 T17SR 53611926 1926–1936 Montrose No.2 1936–1941 DepotT18PY 75891926 1927–1931 1931–1933 Depot 1933–1938 1938–1939 Aberdeen No.2 1939–1942 (Storage) 1942–1949 1949–1950 DepotT19TY 25471927 1927–1930 1930–1935 1936–1939 1939–1949 Cromer No.2 1949–1951 T20 T21 T22

See also New Holland TC45 launch tractor Talus MB-764 launch tractor Talus MB-H launch tractor Talus MB-4H launch tractor Talus Atlantic 85 DO-DO launch carriage Fowler Challenger III amphibious tractor

References