ST 206
LAST VOYAGE
Seaplane Tender 206 has just been aquired by the Royal Air Force Museum London. The prototype was tested by T. E. SHAW better known as Lawrence of Arabia
This is a brief view of the last voyage of Seaplane Tender 206 from Lymington in Hants to the RAF Museum at Hendon. This voyage will have ST 206 call at some of the wartime ASRMCS bases on its journey.
AGENDA
Day 1 April 30th From LYMINGTON to CALSHOT and then to SHOREHAM and remain there overnight
Day 2 May 1st From SHOREHAM to DOVER calling at NEWHAVEN and overnight at DOVER
Day 3 May 2nd From DOVER to ST. KATHERINE DOCK and then overnight at ST KATHERINE DOCK
Day 4 May 4th Is sailing up the RIVER THAMES to SHEPPERTON MARINA.
Day 5 May 6th Will see the Launch lifted out of the water and placed on a lorry for the final part of the journey to the RAF Museum at HENDON.
BOATCREWS
The Launch will be Skippered by PHIL CLABBURN, the previous owner plus one other Crewman. The other part of the crew will be former crewmen from the Royal Air Force Marine Branch that crewed the Air Sea Rescue and Marine Craft Launches during the war and up until the Marine Branch was disbanded in 1986.
The support part of the crew will be changed at each stop to enable as many senior members to take part in the last voyage. The first 2 days will have a member of the Hants and Dorset Branch and the London & South East Branch. The final 2 days will see members from the Marine Restoration Team and Staff and Trustees from the Royal Air Force Museum London, as part of the crew. Of course this is dependent on the weather and sea conditions.
ST 206
This type of craft was the first purpose built Seaplane Tender. It is 37.5 feet long, had a beam of 8.5 feet, a draught of 2.5 feet and was powered by 2 Power Meadows Marine Petrol Engines of 100 BHP each. It displaced 4.5 Tons and the hull was Mahogany. It was capable of 29 knots which could be maintained for 30 minutes. Its maximum cruising speed was 24 knots and with 65 gallons of fuel gave an endurance of 140 miles. The prototype ST 200 was evaluated by T. E Shaw in the Cattewater at Plymouth which would later become RAF MountBatten.
During the voyage, off Sheerness, it is hoped to simulate the speed trials carried out by T. E. Shaw. With an ex-RASC launch ‘AMIENS’ owned by Mike Johnson acting as Camera Boat it is hoped to video these operations. As much as possible of the complete voyage will be videoed for posterity.When ST 206 arrives at the RAF Museum it will temporally be placed beside the Coastal Command Hall until the operation to move it into the Coastal Command Building can be completed. It will eventually be placed under the Port wing of the Sunderland. It is hoped to have an inauguration of ST 206 as a Museum exhibit on 19th May which will be the 75th anniversary of T. E. Lawrence’s death
ST 206 will join the other Marine Craft exhibits of the Royal Air Force Museum London, namely Rescue Target Towing Launch (RTTL) 2757 and Pinnace 1374 which are shown in the picture above. It is hoped that ST 206 will be the first of those completing the range of Launches used by the Royal Air Force Marine Branch.
Peter Dye steering ST 206 in the Solent
SHOREHAM
ST 206 is expected to arrive at Shoreham at 13.45 and there will be a Press Conferance at 14.30 conducted by Bill Sloan Chairman of the Air Sea Rescue and Marine Craft Sections Club.
THE PORT OF NEWHAVEN
Lays out the RED CARPET to WELCOME ST 206
Due to the close ties that ASRMCS Club Exec member John Parsons has with the Boating Fraternity at the Port of Newhaven they are pulling out all the stops to welcome ST 206 when she visits on Saturday 1st May 2010.The Newhaven Lifeboat will meet ST 206 and escort her into the Harbour. As it is Regatta weekend then there is possibly going to be a number of Yachts joining the welcome. The Harbour Master of Newhaven has already arranged a traditional Newhaven Welcome when ST 206 enters the Harbour. The Mayor of Newhaven Carla Butler will be there to Welcome ST 206 accompanied by The Clerk of the Council Mr Ian Everest. The local Air Training Corp 1218 Squadron will also be there when she docks. All in All there will be a massive welcolme for this Old Lady of the Sea when she arrives for her visit. ST 206 is due to arrive at Newhaven at 10.30. There Will be a Press Conferance at 14.30 conducted by Bill Sloan Chairman of the Air Sea Rescue and Marine Craft Sections Club.
PRESS RELEASE: 2nd May 2010
Members of the ASR/MCS Club, Seahaven Branch of RAFA and 1218 (Newhaven) Sqn. ATC, along with the Mayor of Newhaven Cllr. Carla Butler. Welcomed ST (Seaplane Tender) 206 into Newhaven on the 1st May, on its final journey to the RAF Museum Hendon. She arrived at 11:20hrs to a warm welcome from the above and other members of the public. The launch was skippered by Phil Clabburn, the previous owner. The Members of the ATC, ASR/MCS Club, Seahaven RAFA were invited to go on board while she was at Newhaven. From Newhaven she went to Dover and then onto her final jourey up the river Thames to Shepperton Marina. On the 6th May she will be lifted out of the water to make her road journey to Hendon. The prototype was first tested by T.E. Shaw better known as "Lawrence of Arabia". The weather was kind and all concerned had an enjoyable morning.Peter Bonfield Vice President & Chairman of Seahaven RAFA
ST 206 in Newhaven Port
DOVER
ST 206 is due to arrive at Dover in the early evening around 19.00. As it is arriving so late then the Press Conference will be at 11.30 on Sunday 2nd May and will be conducted by Bill Amos the Leader of the Royal Air Force Museum's Marine Craft Restoration Team. ST 206 left Dover at 11.00 on 2nd May for Greenwich YC Direct due to forthcoming inclement weather. They failed to find the Yacht Club and went into St. Katherine's Dock for two nights.
GREENWICH YACHT CLUB
ST 206 arrived at St. Katherine's Dock at 18.30 on 2nd May and will stay two nights, owing to bad weather
ST 206 has to leave St. Katherine's Dock at 08.45 latest due to the tide. She will then go down river to Greenwich YC. Those who wish to talk to the crew and take photographs must get there around 10.00 as the tide will still be going out and ST 206 has to leave as soon after 11.00 as possible. There will be a Press Conference at 11.00 Tuesday 4th May on the Dot.
ST 206 will leave on Tuesday 4th May at 11.00 approx. and arrive at Shepperton at about 20.00 depending on speed restrictions.
ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM LONDON
