RNLB Manchester Unity of Oddfellows (ON 960) (original) (raw)

The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows (RNLI Official Number 960) was an Oakley-class lifeboat of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)[1][2] stationed at Sheringham in the English county of Norfolk[3] from 10 July 1961 until 1990 when she was replaced after 29 years service by an Atlantic 75 second generation Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) in May 1992. During the time that The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows was on station at Sheringham, she performed 127 service[1] launches, rescuing 134 lives.[2]

The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows was built at the yard of William Osborne at Littlehampton, West Sussex.[4] She was an Oakley class self-righting design[4] which combined great stability with the ability to self-right in the event of the lifeboat capsizing. This was achieved by a system of shifting water ballast.[4] The system worked by the lifeboat taking on one and half tons of sea water at launching in to a tank built into the base of the hull. If the lifeboat then reached a crucial point of capsize the ballast water would transfer through valves to a righting tank built into the port side.[4] If the capsize was to the starboard side of the lifeboat, the water shift started when an angle of 165° was reached.[4] This would push the boat into completing a full 360° roll. If the capsize was to the port side, the water transfer started at 110°. In this case the weight of water combined with the weight of machinery aboard the lifeboat usually managed to stop the roll and allow the lifeboat to bounce back to upright.[4]

The hull of The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows was constructed from African mahogany built with two skins.[4] Each skin was diagonally laid with a layer of calico laid between the skins. The outer skin was 3⁄8 in (9.5 mm) thick with the inner skin being 1⁄4 in (6.4 mm) thick. The keel was iron and weighed 1.154 tons. The hull was divided into eleven watertight compartments. The lifeboat was 37 feet 0 inches (11.28 m) in length and 11 feet 6 inches (3.51 m) in beam and displaced 12 long tons 1 cwt (27,000 lb or 12.2 t),[4] when fully laden with crew and gear. She was fitted with twin Perkins P4M, 43 brake horsepower (32 kW) Diesel engine, which moved her over the water at 8 knots (15 km/h).[4] The wheelhouse was positioned amidships.

The lifeboat was fitted with Decca 060 radar and all she carried Pye Westminster VHF and an Ajax MF radio telephones. In addition a radio Direction Finding set was carried, which gave a magnetic bearing to a transmitting station. The electric searchlight was standard along with Pains Wessex speedlines.

The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows performed a total of 127 service launches during here 29 years at Sheringham[1] becoming the longest serving Oakley class lifeboat in the RNLI's fleet.[2]

Over the period that The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows was stationed at Sheringham she had a total of five coxswains who were as follows:

One notable rescue was carried out on 15 August 1961.[2] the Lucy was herself a converted ship's lifeboat and she was on her maiden voyage from Peterborough to Southwold. There was a north west wind blowing, bitterly cold and sea conditions were described as short steep sea. The Lucy sprung a leak at the stern and started to take on water rapidly. Her four crew became concerned and started to send up distress signals. The signals were spotted and The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows made what was going to be a difficult launched. Because of the conditions of the tide, haul-off rope had to be used to prevent the lifeboat from being washed broadsides onto the beach. Just as the boat left the carriage the mast holding the haul-off rope snapped and it was only by skilful handling by coxwain Henry 'Downtide' West[2] that tragedy was averted. The lifeboat found the Lucy 5 miles (8.0 km) north east of Sheringham. Three lifeboatmen were put aboard the Lucy to help transfer the boat owner's unconscious wife and young son to The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows. The owner was transferred next, while the fourth member of the crew remained on board with the lifeboatmen while a tow was attempted. In the fierce swell the tow rope snapped and the coxwain decided to evacuate the four men remaining on board. The casualties were landed at Sheringham and all made a full recovery.

When The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows was retired from service her place was temporally taken by the last of Sheringham's all-weather lifeboats, the Lloyds II,[1][2] built in 1966[1] and paid for by donations from members of Lloyd's of London.[1] On 18 April 1992,[2] Lloyds II left Sheringham having performed seven services while on station. In May 1992 an Atlantic 75 second generation Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) also named Manchester Unity of Oddfellows became the permanent replacement for The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows ON 960

RNLB Manchester Unity of Oddfellows ON 960

Date

Casualty

Lives saved

1961

13 July

Four crab boats, escorted boats

8 August

Small Yacht, saved boat

15 August

Converted Ships Lifeboat Lucy, saved boat

1962

9 July

Converted Ships Lifeboat Sea Hawk, saved boat

7 August

Fishing vessel Sprat, saved boat

1963

15 August

Cabin cruiser Buccaneer, In tow of crab boat, saved boat, landed 3

1964

1 September

Crab boat White Rose, of Sheringham, gave help

1965

20 June

Speed boat Sea Sprite, saved boat

15 August

Yacht Tablet, saved yacht

15 August

Speed boat Red Barrel, landed 2

5 September

Cabin Cruiser Sirius, gave help

1966

1 July

Motor vessel Pantarali of Panama, landed 2 and a body

1967

18 April

Four crab boats of Sheringham, gave help

1968

29 January

Motor cruiser Hilary Anne, saved boat

20 May

Nine fishing boats of Sheringham, escorted

25 May

Fishing boat Tania of Sheringham, saved boat

30 June

Cabin cruiser She's a Lady, assisted to save cruiser

17 August

Sailing Dinghy, saved dinghy

1969

9 February

Motor vessel Richmond Castle, of London, landed a sick man

17 September

Crab boat Cicely, of Sheringham, escorted

1971

3 January

Fishing boat Our Boys, of Sheringham, escorted

8 February

Fishing boat Welcome Messenger, of Sheringham, escorted

29 April

Eight fishing boats of Sheringham, stood by

3 June

Fishing boats Our Boys and Mizpah of Sheringham, stood by

9 June

Converted motor fishing boat Peggy, of Sheringham, saved boat

19 June

Cabin Cruiser John Kay, saved boat

1972

31 July

Cabin cruiser Cylvia, gave help

16 September

Yacht Sea Boots, saved

1973

1 January

Dudgeon Lightvessel, landed a sick man

6 April

Yacht Sallie of Maldon, saved

24 April

Dudgeon Lightvessel, landed a sick man

8 August

Fishing vessel Ame of King's Lynn, gave help

7 November

Haisborough Lightvessel, landed a sick man

1974

27 April

Six motor fishing vessels, escort vessels

25 November

Fishing vessel Kilsyth, landed an injured man

1976

1 January

Finnlark of Finland, landed an injured man

2 June

Yacht Blue Tit, saved boat

4 September

Barge Focena, saved boat

1977

5 August

Yacht Niord, gave help

25 October

Dinghy, escorted boat

1978

28 March

Fishing boat Jonathan James, gave help

5 July

Converted Admiralty supply vessel VIC.32, escorted vessel

8 September

Motor launch Ailsa, gave help

1979

29 January

Fishing boat Mizpah, gave help

5 April

Fishing boat Mizpah, escorted boat

16 April

Fishing boat Harvester, Saved

26 August

Motor cruiser Dora Lee, saved

1980

8 April

Fishing boats, escorted boats

1983

9 August

Cabin cruiser Cocktail II saved boat

1984

11 May

Fishing boats, escorted boats

24 May

Fishing boats, escorted boats

10 August

Motor fishing vessel Venturer, saved vessel

1985

20 April

Rubber Dinghy Force Four GT, saved boat

13 May

Fishing boats, escorted boats

3 June

Cargo vessel Bandick of Guernsey, landed an injured man

1 August

Rafts, saved

3 August

Catamaran Norwegian Blue, stood by

15 September

Two skin divers saved

1986

28 October

Fishing boat Crystal Dawn, saved boat

1987

25 April

Fishing boat Fragrance gave help

28 May

Motor fishing vessel Kathleen, Mizpah and Pegasus, gave help

28 May

Fishing vessel Good Courage, escorted vessel

25 July

Fishing boats, escorted boats

29 July

Fishing vessel Sea Eagle, Landed 3 sick men

4 October

Fishing vessel Caroline, saved

1988

15 May

Motor yacht Kitaja, craft brought in–gave help

26 June

Fishing vessel Justifier, craft brought in-gave help

19 August

Sailboard, saved board

2 September

Fishing vessel Liberty, craft brought in-gave help

1989

15 February

RoRo cargo vessel Torga Thia, of Sweden, stood by

16 April

Fiahing boat Cheryl C, svaed boat

30 May

Fishing vessel Pegasus, of Great Yarmouth, escorted vessel

21 June

Fishing vessels Donna Maria and Justified, gave help

29 June

Yacht Meg, saved boat

29 June

Sailing club safety boat Jeanie, escorted boat

29 June

Fishing vessel Sea Eagle, escorted vessel

1990

14 April

Sailboard, saved board

15 July

Fishing vessel Blue Boy, gave help

19 August

Skin diver, saved

19 August

Two motor boats, gave help

28 September

Last Service, Yacht Smiling Swiss, landed an injured woman