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Hoverlloyd
This page is devoted to postcards and photographs of Hoverlloyd.
An alphabetical list of ships
shown on this page is shown below.
T
Below this is a
Fleet List
in chronological order.
Hovercraft on this Page:-
Swift (1)
- Hoverlloyd: 1967-1969
Sure (1)
- Hoverlloyd: 1967-1969
Swift (2)
- Hoverlloyd: 1969-1981
Sure (2)
- Hoverlloyd: 1969-1981
Prince of Wales
- Hoverlloyd: 1977-1981
Sir Christopher
- Hoverlloyd: 1972-1981
Associated Pages:-
Hoverlloyd
- this page!
Hoverspeed
Hovertravel
Seaspeed
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page
www.srn6.com
- Detailed history of SRN-6 craft by Matk Porter
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Hoverlloyd Fleet List
Swift (1)
GH 9001/GH 2031 - SRN6-025
(Hoverlloyd: 1967-1969)
Launched in March 1966, this craft became the
Sure
part of Hoverlloyd’s "Swift and Sure" operation. The craft was used on Hoverlloyd's inaugural cross-channel run on 6 April 1966, and on 25 April 1966 carried President de Gaulle across "La Manche". On 30 April the channel service started in earnest, and 025 was employed on the route between Ramsgate Harbour and Calais. In early operations, skirt wear was a major problem, particularly as Hoverlloyd's route ran over the Goodwin Sands. A trial over the sands using 025 was conducted for two months in the spring of 1967 to determine the effect on the skirt.
The craft was returned to BHC, who chartered her to Hovertravel on 1 April 1968 to complement SR.N6 130 on the Ryde to Southsea service. Hovertravel’s second machine, 026, was at this time in South America for the renowned Amazon expedition. On 25 June 1968, while returning to BHC's works at East Cowes for maintenance, 025 hit SR.N6 016 at the end of the Cowes breakwater. It was low tide, and neither of the pilots could see each other's craft. Fortunately, nobody was injured and 025 sustained only minor damage to the bow. The other craft was damaged amidships and was driven to BHC's slipway for repairs.
At the end of 1968 the craft was sold to Pacific Hovercraft in Canada, and started on the passenger service from Vancouver to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island on 23 February 1969. This was a 40 mile route, and a return service was run twice a day. By June the service had stopped, and 025 was put on a seismic survey in the Beaufort Sea. Pacific Hovercraft went into receivership in September 1971.with most of their interests being taken over by Northern Transportation. SR.N6 025 returned to BHC at Cowes in January 1972. It was at this time that Seaspeed's two SR.N6s were stretched to the Mk1S standard. BHC carried out a similar operation on 025, but went considerably further and produced the first SR.N6 Mk6. Her length was increased by 9ft 8in by inserting four hull frames, the side decks were modified with flat tops and angled faces. The single 9ft propeller was removed and a twin 10ft propeller installation fitted in its place. The tail unit was modified the rudder air ducts were removed as they were now superfluous, and the top elevator extended either side into the propeller efflux.
The prototype SR.N6 Mk6 was launched on 21 September 1973. Various trials and demonstrations were carried out, showing a great improvement in control and a reduction in noise over the original design. Evaluation of the machine was carried out by the Inter-services Hovercraft Trials Unit (IHTU), later the Naval Hovercraft Trials Unit (NHTU) in December 1974 and January 1975. On 13 May 1976 025 travelled under her own power to Amsterdam, and returned on 22nd May. In August 1976 the uprated Gnome engine was removed and a standard one fitted. The craft was used by Solent Seaspeed on their Cowes to Southampton passenger service. After a successful trial in which 58 hours were logged, 025 went back to BHC and continued as a company demonstrator. The "chip-bag" rear skirt was replaced by a triple loop design in April 1977. This configuration was found to be prone to wear, so the original skirt was refitted. By July the uprated Gnome was certified for passenger service, so another trial was carried out with Solent Seaspeed.
The craft has continued since as a demonstrator, and among other duties carried Wang Chen and Hua Guo Feng of China, on the River Thames on 15 November 1973 and 29 October 1979, respectively. In November 1981 a mine counter-measures trial was carried out at Portland. The craft remained with BHC at East Cowes, as the company's demonstrator, until 1989. It was then converted by Hoverwork to carry out hydrographic survey work. The craft joined SR.N6 055 at Eurosense-Belfotop in Zeebrugge.
Text:
www.srn6.com
© Copyright Mark Porter 1988, 2000
The first arrival of
Swift (1)
at Ramsgate.
Image: Swedish Lloyd in house magazine Lloydaren for 1966.
Swift (1)
on the summer Calais service in 1967.
Image: Swedish Lloyd in house magazine Lloydaren for 1967.
Hoverlloyd postcard of
Swift (1)
.
Sure (1)
(Hoverlloyd: 1967-1969)
Hoverlloyd postcard of
Sure (1)
.
Hoverlloyd postcard of
Sure (1)
.
Hoverlloyd postcard of
Sure (1)
.
Hoverlloyd postcard of
Sure (1)
.
Swift (2)
(Hoverlloyd: 1969-1981)
Advance publicity image of
Swift (2)
and
Sure (2)
.
Image: Swedish Lloyd in house magazine Lloydaren for 1966.
Photograph of
Swift (2)
.
Photo: © Hoverlloyd.
Photograph of
Swift (2)
.
Photo: © Hoverlloyd.
J.Salmon Postcard 1-65-08-07 of
Swift (2)
at Pegwell Bay.
Scan: Hugh Burns
Click to open larger image in new window
Elgate postcard of
Swift (2)
and
Sure (2)
at Ramsgate.
Elgate postcard of
Swift (2)
and
Sure (2)
at Ramsgate.
Scan: Hugh Burns
Click to open larger image in new window
Postcard of
Swift (2)
in Hoverspeed colours.
Sure (2)
(Hoverlloyd: 1969-1981)
Advance publicity image of
Swift (2)
and
Sure (2)
.
Image: Swedish Lloyd in house magazine Lloydaren for 1966.
Photograph of
Sure (2)
.
Photo: © Hoverlloyd.
Elgate postcard of
Sure (2)
.
Postcard of
Sure (2)
.
Enlarged image from the card above.
Postcard of
Sure (2)
.
Postcard of
Sure (2)
.
Elgate postcard of
Swift (2)
and
Sure (2)
at Ramsgate.
Elgate postcard of
Swift (2)
and
Sure (2)
at Ramsgate.
Scan: Hugh Burns
Click to open larger image in new window
Sir Christopher
(Hoverlloyd: 1972-1981)
Postcard of
Sir Christopher
at Ramsgate.
Postcard of
Sir Christopher
at Ramsgate.
Enlarged image from the card above.
Photograph of
Sir Christopher
in Hoverspeed colours.
Photo: © FotoFlite.
Prince of Wales
(Hoverlloyd: 1977-1981)
Photograph of
Prince of Wales
in Hoverspeed colours.
Photo: © FotoFlite.
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