Talus MB-H amphibious tractor

Talus MB-H is a continuous track launch tractor which was specifically designed for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), to launch and recover carriage mounted lifeboats, particularly the Mersey-class lifeboat, from beach-launched lifeboat stations. In total, 31 tractors were manufactured by Clayton Engineering Limited of Knighton, Powys.

As of February 2024, only 5 Mersey-class lifeboats remain in service with the RNLI, (plus 3 relief boats) and of those, only three are carriage launched, with the aid of the Talus MB-H.

The Mersey-class is being replaced mostly with the new Shannon-class All-weather lifeboat, which uses the new Shannon Launch and Recovery System (SLARS) from Supacat and Clayton Engineering, or in some locations, with a B-class inshore lifeboat.

Some of the surplus Talus MB-H tractors will be transferred for use at stations using the Inshore Atlantic 85, with a few retained in the relief fleet, whilst the rest are likely to be sold out of service. The following list will include those tractors now in use with Independent rescue services where known.