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Updated:
28 July 2009
S130
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WW2
Schnellboot |
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Lift Out |
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Click on the thumbnails below
for full size image |
| S130, the last surviving WW2
Schnellboot in viable
condition for restoration and the only S 38b Class boat still afloat, was slipped on 10th March 2008 and was taken
to her present home to
await our tender care at Southdown in Cornwall later this year. |
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| S130 was made safe by Roving
Commissions and towed from
Mashfords yard, Cremyll, to a mud berth at Southdown Marina in October
last year where the vessel was wintered and readied for slipping and being moved to the restoration site. During the time in her mud
berth she was lightened by removing her generator, centreline MWM V16
engine (not one of her original engines), gearbox and about 1.2t of iron ballast. |
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| The logistics and difficulties of the operation were
compounded not only by the relatively delicate condition of the vessel
but also the narrow, winding roads and in particular the tight corners
through Millbrook. We were therefore restricted in the size of lifting
equipment that we could get on site. Two 125t cranes from Baldwin Crane
Hire and South West Crane Hire were deployed along with Self Propelled
Modular Transporters (SPMTs) from Abnormal Load Engineering (ALE) and
two lifting cradles were designed by Roving Commissions and constructed
by Quayside Metals.
At 0600 Monday 10th March 2008 the attempt to slip S130 at Voyager
Yard, Southdown and transport her to the restoration site began. This
was the only tide this year to provide enough water for the operation,
if we missed this one we would have to wait until March 2009 for our
next attempt so success on the day was imperative. It was, therefore, with more than a little trepidation that we
monitored the weather forecasts during the preceding days of the run up
to the operation. A deep low was developing in the Atlantic and heading
directly for us with unerring accuracy.
Regardless of the forecast, there is no sense in second guessing the
weather so on the Saturday the slipway was pressure washed and keel
blocks were cut in readiness. On Sunday at low water, the cradles
were lifted into position and shorelines were prepared and strategically
placed up wind to control the boat onto the slipway. Sod's Law was in
full swing at 0300 on the morning of the lift as the storm hit the
Southwest with southerly winds causing havoc all around the coast and
uprooting trees on the approach roads. Our vain hope that the weather
system would move north was to no avail. As the boats arrived at 0645
to tow S130 round to Voyager Yard's slipway the first decision of the day had to be
made. To go or not to go. As there was a bit of a lull and the wind had
veered into the west, although the gusts were still pretty impressive,
we decided to make a move for it before the second blow came in. A light
schnellboot in high winds is not the easiest thing for ribs to control
and the drivers did a superb job manoeuvring the boat around and on to
the slip. |
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| Once in the cradles we waited for the tide to
drop back, which took longer than anticipated due to the wind, before
the cranes dropped down alongside, fitting the last dolphin to the aft
cradle and setting the bilge supports. Meanwhile the SPMTs, which had
been transhipped on smaller trucks, were assembled and manoeuvred into
position ready for S130 to be lifted. |
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| By this time the wind had increased again and
was now blowing a good force 8+ so the next crucial decision had to be
made, whether or not it was safe to lift the vessel. Fortunately the
slipway wall was close enough to allow the boat to be blown against it
when she was lifted which gave just enough control over the swing to
make it possible. With the SPMTs lined up, S130 was lifted by the
cradles, and they were rolled under the vessel until in the correct
position to take their load. The boat was lowered onto the trailers and
chained down. |
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| Once secured the boat was moved up the
slipway, turned and transported gingerly for the 250 yard journey to the
restoration site. |
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| When in position, the cranes set up once again
to lift her off the SPMTs. As soon as the transporters were out from
under, S130 was lowered on to keel blocks and shored up to leave the
cradles free to be placed on the ground.
Job Done |
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Everyone involved in this operation worked with
humour, dedication and professionalism in the face of adverse conditions
and, without any one of those attributes the operation would not have
been possible. Thank you All
~ Now The Hard Work Is Set To
Begin ~ |
| During the forthcoming months all remaining items within
the hull will be removed and a thorough survey will be undertaken.
Towards the end of the summer a cover for the project will be built over
S130 before the restoration commences in earnest. It is anticipated
that the main restoration work will commence in the Autumn of this year.
Over the next few weeks S130 will be completely cleared internally
and a thorough structural survey be undertaken to ascertain the extent
of the work required to return the hull to a sound condition, capable of
attaining speeds of 40+ knots.
Another survey will then follow, which will be more inclined towards
detailed research, looking for evidence within the deck structure and
elsewhere which will hopefully guide us towards the type of armourment
carried together with other items of deck equipment that may have been
carried, eg mine laying and depth charges etc. We will also be looking
for evidence of the bridge arrangement.
Meanwhile we will be working on the engines and systems on of a 1960s
Zobel Class Schnellboot which we are hoping to bring to Plymouth Sound
later in the summer under its own power for use as donor boat. This
vessel has four MB-518 engines together with Skin fittings, the respective starting and
monitoring systems and sundry other useful bits and, it is hoped, suitable stern gear.
We will also be arranging a cover for the vessel to provide a
suitable working environment for the restoration work.
~ Photographs and notes will
be posted on this site as the project progresses ~ |
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