D-class lifeboat (RFD 320)
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | D-class (RFD 320) |
| Builders | RFD |
| Operators |  Royal National Lifeboat Institution |
| Preceded by | D-class (RFD PB16) |
| Succeeded by | D-class (RFD PB16) |
| Built | 1966–1967 |
| In service | 1966–1983 |
| Completed | 6 |
| Retired | 6 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | RFD 320 |
| Complement | 2 or 3 |
The D-class (RFD 320) lifeboat is a class of inflatable boat operated between 1967 and 1983 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution of the United Kingdom and Ireland.
They were manufactured by R.F.D. Co.Ltd of Gadalming, Surrey, a company founded by engineer Reginald Foster Dagnall. Over time, RFD became a synonym for "Rapid Flotation Devices".
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.
There were only six D-class (RFD 320) boats in the RNLI Fleet, and all were utilised as Boarding Boats.
RNLI Fleet
| Op. No.[a] | Name | In service [1] | Station | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D-77 | Unnamed | 1967–1980 | Boarding Boat (Y1) | |
| D-78 | Unnamed | 1967–1976 | Boarding Boat (Y2) | |
| D-79 | Unnamed | 1967–1981 | Boarding Boat (Y3) | |
| D-80 | Unnamed | 1967–1983 | Boarding Boat (Y4) | |
| D-118 | Unnamed | 1966–1980 | Boarding Boat (Y6) | |
| D-119 | Unnamed | 1966–1976 | Boarding Boat (Y7) |
- ^ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat.
References
- ^ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 72–78.