Sponsors
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Registration number
1337
Status
Registered
a12admin
Previous names
- 1944 - 1965 Amiens
- 1965 - 1998 Fair Time
Details
Function
Service Vessel
Location
Cuxton
Vessel type
HS Target Towing Launch
Current use
Private use
Available to hire
No
Available for excursions
No
Web address
www.avon-boating.co.uk
Construction
Builder
Thornycroft, J I & Co Ltd, Woolston, Southampton
Built in
1944
Rig
None
Number of decks
1
Propulsion
Motor
Number of engines
1
Primary engine type
Inboard
Boiler type
None
Boilermaker
None
Dimensions
Breadth: Beam
15.57 feet
(4.75m)
Depth
2.59 feet
(0.79m)
Length: Overall
69.00 feet
(21.03m)
Tonnage: Gross
55.00
History
AMIENS RASC is a Battlefield class target towing launch. She was originally destined to be built at Hampton as yard number 2660, but was in fact built by J. I. Thornycroft at Woolston in March 1944 as yard number 4062. She was initially named AMIENS, but this was changed to FAIRTIME in 1965 and retained until 1998.
Her hull is double diagonal built, with mahogany planking on Canadian rock elm ribs and stringers. She has a teak deck with a transom stern and a pointed bow with a raked straight stem. Her current engines are twin Rolls Royce C65FLM, with six cylinders and 230 brake horsepower.
She was first used as a target towing craft for the Royal Army Service Corps. In later years, she is believed to have been a survey or recovery vessel for some time. She is also believed to have been used during the surveying of The Channel Tunnel and was filmed by Ray Warner for the Ministry of Transport: https://youtu.be/_X3g1mGG0PQ
Her transom has been rebuilt. The stringers and planks have been replaced and she has been epoxy sheathed.
Update, April 2022: Vessel for sale
Key dates
-
1944
Built by J & I Thornycroft, Woolston
-
1965
Vessel re-named to Fairtrade
-
2012
Vessel selected for Queen's Diamond Jubilee Pageant on 3 June 2012
Sources
World Ship Society, British Armed Forces Small Craft Historical Society, Survivors Register, 1998
Motor Boat and Yachting: a 69ft Target Towing Launch, pp72-6, March 1944
Own this vessel?
If you are the owner of this vessel and would like to provide more details or updated information, please contact info@nationalhistoricships.org.uk
