RSL-1664 - 43 FT RANGE SAFETY LAUNCH

Teak was used for the side and bottom planking. The side planking was 11/16 inch in total thickness laid double diagonally, the inner skin was 3/4 inch thick and the outer 7/16 inch. The bottom planking was 3/4 inch in total thickness, with the inner layer 1/4 inch and the outer skin ½ inch thick. The deck superstructure was fabricated from aluminium-alloy riveted and welded. It covered the wheelhouse, galley and W/T compartment and cabin. Windows were fitted in the front, rear and sides of the superstructure, with standard portlights fitted for the W/T room, galley and toilet compartments. The interior surface was insulated with 1½ inch Isoflex covered by 1/8 inch thick plywood lining.

RSL 1664 was ordered in 1955 and built by Herbert Woods at Potter Heigham under contract 6/MC/1652/CB21(a). After trials the craft was accepted by the Royal Air Force and taken on charge on the 30th May 1956. On the same date RSL 1664 was allocated to 1110 MCU at Immingham where she replaced the RSL 1501, a converted 4l.5ft Seaplane Tender. The allocation was authorised on Voucher MC2/577/MC. RSL 1664 was later joined by her sister, RSL 1665, from the same builder, at Immingham on the 19th July 1956. The duo served out of the base at 1110 MCU until the 12th February 1958, when both were authorised on voucher MC2/22/MC to be transferred to 238 MU at Calshot for storage. Whereas 1665 was later the same year given another task, RSL 1664 remained at Calshot until the 8th March 1960, when on voucher MC2/36/60 she was transferred from storage to 1107 MCU at Newhaven to replace a similar RSL 1650. Her allocation was for use at No 1 unit. It is has since been established that No 1 unit refers to No 1 Unit Movements (Embarkation), which was based at Woolwich. Just under a year later on the 9th February 1961, authorised on voucher MC2/10/61, RSL 1664 was returned to storage. She was replaced at 1107 MCU by RSL 1650, and taken to RAF Mount Batten where she was allocated to the MCT&SU and as it stated on the voucher, for "drying out and servicing". The RSL was in storage at Mount Batten for two years before she was transferred on the 4th April 1963 (voucher MC 19/63) to the Lyme Regis Detachment. The latter had been formed when the 1111 MCU closed down at Lyme Regis, the detachment craft were based at Mount Batten but operated from Lyme Regis. In her role at Lyme Regis, she replaced RSL 1644. The detachment duties were for just one year as the base closed down in 1964 and RSL 1664 was returned to Mount Batten for further storage on 29.05.64.

She remained in storage at RAF Mount Batten for 3 further years until the 15th June 1967, when on voucher MC 8/67, the RSL was transferred to HMS Dolphin at Gosport, with a note stating the transfer was non recurring. It is very likely that RSL 1664 was attached to Fort Monkton where she worked with Special Forces, and many years later she was one of the three craft that were observed working out of HMS Vernon in 1977; - Army records show that RSL 1664 was actually in service with No I Military Training Establishment, based at Fort Monkton, Gosport by the 9th May 1975, when some modifications were carried out to the propulsion engines. At around about the same period, RSL 1664 with her name board up on her wheelhouse roof, was often seen lying along side the submarine HMS Alliance at HMS Dolphin. Later the same year, she was observed underway in the Solent with a navy blue hull and white superstructure. Just under a year later, on the 25th April 1980, RSL 1664 departed the harbour at Portsmouth, still in the same livery, however, she was flying an RCT Ensign and made her course towards Marchwood, to be lifted out at the base for use by the REME. Records indicate she was transferred to the REME in 1983, and the Maritime branch of the REME kept her, along with a collection of other redundant craft, at their small base within the Marchwood Military Port complex and used the hull for shipwright training. This involved cutting holes in her hull and superstructure, which were subsequently repaired by trainees, during their instruction in shipwright techniques. Slowly but surely the craft deteriorated having her hull opened up and repaired on numerous occasions.

In May 2001, the RSL 1664 was transferred from the REME workshops to the nearby sight of the British Military Powerboat Trust (BMPT) at the former Husband's Shipyard at Marchwood. RSL 1664 now awaits restoration back to her former RSL appearance.

Shipwright training hulk and Saved for restoration

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