HSC Swift (GH-2004)
Nicolas Lévy Collection
“Mountbatten” (SRN4) Mk I Hovercraft built in 1969 by British Hovercraft Corporation, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, England (Yard No 002) for Hoverlloyd Ltd., Ramsgate, England
Technical Data
- Length: 130.2 ft (39.68m) overall 56.40 m (1969)
- Beam: 78 ft (23.77m) overall (1969)
- Height on landing pads: 37.8 ft (11.48m) overall
- Passenger/vehicle floor area: 5,800 sq. ft.(539 sq. m.)
- Vehicle deck headroom: 11.6 ft (3.51m)
- Bow door (height x width): 11.6 ft x 18 ft (3.51m x 5.48m)
- Stern door (height x width): 11.6 ft x 31 ft (3.51m x 9.45m)
- Skirt length: 8 ft (2.44m)
- Main Engines: 4 Rolls Royce ‘Marine Proteus’ gas turbines (1969). Max. continuous rating at 15 degrees Cent – 3,400 shp (3447 c.v.) each (1969)
- Auxiliary power units: 2 Rover 1S/90 gas turbines (55KVA each)
- Propellers: 4 Hawker Siddeley Dynamics 4 blade variable-pitch propellers with a 19 ft diameter (5.79m)
- Lift Fans: 4 BHC, 12 blade, centrifugal, 11.6 ft diameter (3.5m)
- Fuel capacity: 4,500 Imp Gall (20.456 litres)
- Tonnage: 168 tons (170.7 tonnes) (1969), 300 (1978)
- Max speed over calm water: 60-65 knots (111-120 km./hr.)
- Average service speed: 40-50 knots (74-93 km./hr)
- Stopping distance from 50 knots: 700 yards (640m)
- Range: at 10 tons fuel, 40-50 knots – 100-125 n.m. (185-230km.)
- Range: at 16 tons fuel, 40-50 knots – 160-200 n.m. (300-370 km.)
- Capacity: 254 passengers, 30 cars (1969).282 passengers, 37 cars ( 1972)
- Sister Vessels: Sure (GH-2005), Prince of Wales (GH-2054), Sir Christopher (GH-2008)
History
🆕 Nicolas Lévy Collection
January 17th 1969: Trials.
🆕 Nicolas Lévy Collection (Trials)
January 1969: Delivered to Hoverlloyd Ltd., Ramsgate, England.
January 23rd 1969: Christened by Mrs Mary Wilson, wife of Prime Minister Harold Wilson.
Nicolas Lévy Collection
April 2nd 1969: Inaugural crossing Ramsgate – Calais.
© Fotoflite, Nicolas Lévy Collection
November 29th 1969: Both SWIFT and SURE are grounded after a propeller flies from SWIFT, the craft causing some £50,000 of damage to the Pegwell Bay Hoverport.
Courtesy of Julien Havart
🆕 Nicolas Lévy Collection
Nicolas Lévy Collection
November 1970: Stranded at Sandgatte, near Calais, with most of her skirt ripped away.
Nicolas Lévy Collection
September 1972: To Cowes for conversion to Mk II.
🆕 Nicolas Lévy Collection ( After conversion to Mk II)
January 1973: Returned to service.
1973-4: Hoverlloyd’s three craft individually upgraded to Mk II specifications, widening of passenger area and car deck to make full use of available space.
October 25th 1981: Registered to Hoverspeed Ltd., Dover, England. Commenced Dover – Calais/ Boulogne.
August 31st 1982: Torn skirt and beaches near Calais. Passengers and cars offloaded onto beach.
June 1986: Sale of Hoverspeed to Sea Containers.
July 10th 1987: Services from Ramsgate cease. Moved to Dover.
© Ken Smith (Dover, 23/07/1987)
🆕 Nicolas Lévy Collection
Nicolas Lévy Collection
© Nigel Scutt (Dover Strait Shipping)(Left) Courtesy of Paul Wells (Right)
“Suffered a fire in the Port Electrical Bay literally mid channel….towed to Dover”
September 29th 1991: Final day in service.
October 11th 1991: Laid up in Dover and offered for sale.
Nicolas Lévy Collection
May 25th 1994: Donated to Hovercraft Museum, Gosport.
© Fotoflite (Towed to Cowes by tug MEECHING 27/06/1994)
June 1994: Bought ashore at Lee-on-Solent and restoration commenced (Hoverspeed livery)
🆕 Nicolas Lévy Collection (Restored to Hoverpeed livery, May 2001)
(Livery changed to Hoverlloyd)
September 2004: Due the deterioration of the structure, broken up.
Nicolas Lévy Collection
🆕 © Nicolas Levy
All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions found. All items included in this article are subject to © copyright. We would like to take this opportunity of thanking: Fotoflite, Julien Havart, Nicolas Levy, Nigel Scutt (Dover Strait Shipping), Ken Smith and Paul Wells for their assistance in compiling this feature.
Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)
