# Fowler Challenger III amphibious tractor

Fowler Challenger III is a continuous track amphibious launch tractor, which was specifically designed for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), to launch and recover carriage mounted lifeboats, from beach-launched lifeboat stations.
A total of 13 tractors were constructed over a seven-year period from 1953 to 1960. The tractor is a highly modified version of the standard 95 bhp Fowler Challenger III diesel crawler tractor, manufactured by John Fowler & Co. of Leeds.
A prototype was trialled successfully at Aberystwyth in 1952
The tractor developed a draw-bar pull of 21,100 Lbs, through its six-speed gearbox, and was fitted with a specially designed winch, allowing it to exert a maximum pull of 38,500 Lbs. at its lowest speed. Extended gear and clutch levers were fitted, to assist the driver when submerged.
The tractor has been made completely watertight, with the engine compartment sealed with watertight panels and doors. The engine was designed to run for long periods without overheating. Circular brass rubber-seated valves were fitted to the air intake and discharge ports, to be closed when submerged. To prevent damage, an automatic stop device was also employed.
There were many requirements of the RNLI variant tractor:
* Able to tow a life-boat and carriage weighing up to 14 tons over various types of terrain, including soft sand and deep shingle.
* Able to pull the life-boat and carriage up gradients of 1 in 4 and to hold them by its brakes on these gradients.
* Able to haul life-boat and carriage to the water, which at low water may be several miles at some stations.
* Capable of operating continuously at full power, in water up to a depth of seven feet.

## Fowler Challenger III fleet

| Op. No. | Reg No. | Built | In service | Station | Comments |
| T56 | MYR 426 | 1953 | 1953–1960 1960–1962 1962–1967 1967 1968 1968–1969 1969–1977 1977–1982 1982 1982–1988 1988–1989 | Hoylake Relief fleet St Ives Depot Dungeness Depot Llandudno Relief fleet Hoylake Clogherhead Store | Featured in Meccano Magazine, April 1954. |
| T57 | NYE 351 | 1953 | 1953–1964 1964–1966 1966–1968 1968–1970 1970–1972 1972–1974 1974 1974–1976 1976–1978 1978–1983 1983–1985 | Aberystwyth Relief fleet Boulmer Dungeness Hastings Relief fleet Rhyl Runswick Depot Clogherhead Depot | In a private collection in Tring, Herts |
| T58 | OJJ 312 HZR 780 | 1953 | 1953–1965 1965–1974 1974–1975 1975–1976 1976–1989 | Pwllheli Bridlington Rhyl Depot Kilmore Quay | |
| T59 | OJJ 866 | 1954 | 1954–1969 1969–1971 1971–1976 1977–1985 | Rhyl Depot Kilmore Quay Newcastle | |
| T60 | OXO 323 | 1954 | 1954–1962 1963–1972 1972–1973 1973–1974 1974–1978 1978–1983 1983–1985 1985–1989 | St Ives Rhyl Depot Hastings Bridlington Rhyl Wells-next-the-Sea Relief fleet | |
| T61 | PLA 561 | 1954 | 1954–1966 1966–1967 1967–1968 1968–1969 1969–1975 1975–1984 1985–1988 1988–1989 | Boulmer Relief fleet St Ives Relief fleet Hoylake Scarborough Newcastle Relief fleet | Restored, was offered for sale in 2022. In a private collection in Market Rasen |
| T62 | PLA 698 | 1954 | 1954–1965 1965–1967 1967–1976 1976–1978 1978–1980 1980–1981 1981–1987 1987–1989 | Boulmer Relief fleet Scarborough Runswick Sheringham Relief fleet Ilfracombe Depot | On display at Chain Bridge Honey Farm, Berwick-upon-Tweed (Stephen Robson Collection). |
| T63 | PXF 163 | 1954 | 1955–1963 1963–1965 1965–1975 1975–1978 1979–1983 1984–1988 1988 | Rhyl Relief fleet Pwllheli Hoylake Wells-next-the-Sea Scarborough Depot | In a private collection in Huddersfield |
| T64 | PXF 575 | 1955 | 1955–1958 1958–1967 1968–1978 1978–1980 1980–1982 1982–1984 1984–1986 | Gourdon Scarborough Sheringham Relief fleet Sheringham Relief fleet Sheringham | In a private collection in Huddersfield |
| T65 | VYT 878 | 1958 | 1958–1959 1959–1963 1963–1970 1970 1970–1972 1972–1973 1974–1985 1985–1990 | Gourdon Relief fleet Hastings Dungeness Relief fleet Hastings Hastings Relief fleet | On display at the RNLI Heritage Collection, Chatham Historic Dockyard |
| T66 | XYP 400 | 1959 | 1959–1969 1969–1974 1975 1976–1986 1986–1989 | Gourdon Runswick Aldeburgh Pwllheli Depot | In a private collection in Ravensden, Bedfordshire |
| T67 | YLD 792 | 1960 | 1960–1969 1969–1972 1972–1974 1974–1979 1979–1982 1982–1983 1983–1984 1984–1985 1985–1987 1987–1989 | Hoylake Relief fleet Rhyl Wells-next-the-Sea Relief fleet Hoylake Rhyl Relief fleet Aldeburgh Depot | November 2024, In a private collection in Redditch, Worcs. |
| T68 | YUV 742 | 1960 | 1960–1968 1969–1974 1975–1978 1978–1982 1982–1984 1984–1987 1987 1987–1989 | Sheringham Wells-next-the-Sea Rhyl Hoylake Sheringham Relief fleet Pwllheli Relief fleet | In a private collection in Tring, Herts |
* ↑ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number carried on the hull.