FerriesHoverlloydHoverspeedPast and Present

HSC Swift (GH-2004) – Past and Present

(GH-2004)

HSC Swift (GH-2004)

Nicolas Lévy Collection

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

🆕 Nicolas Lévy Collection

January 17th 1969: Trials.

Nicolas Lévy Collection Nicolas Lévy Collection

🆕 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 Nicolas Lévy Collection Nicolas Lévy Collection Nicolas Lévy Collection Nicolas Lévy Collection Nicolas Lévy Collection

Nicolas Lévy Collection

April 2nd 1969: Inaugural crossing  Ramsgate – Calais.

© Fotoflite © Fotoflite © Fotoflite

© 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 Courtesy of Julien Havart Courtesy of Julien Havart

Courtesy of Julien Havart

Nicolas Lévy Collection

🆕 Nicolas Lévy Collection
Nicolas Lévy Collection Nicolas Lévy Collection
Nicolas Lévy Collection

November 1970: Stranded at Sandgatte, near Calais, with most of her skirt ripped away.

Nicolas Lévy Collection Nicolas Lévy Collection  

Nicolas Lévy Collection

September 1972: To Cowes for conversion to Mk II.

Nicolas Lévy Collection

🆕 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 © Ken Smith © Ken Smith  

© Ken Smith (Dover, 23/07/1987)

Nicolas Lévy Collection Nicolas Lévy Collection Nicolas Lévy Collection

🆕 Nicolas Lévy Collection

Nicolas Lévy Collection

Nicolas Lévy Collection

Dover Strait Shipping  Courtesy of Paul Wells

© 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

Nicolas Lévy Collection

May 25th 1994: Donated to Hovercraft Museum, Gosport.

© Fotoflite Ref 161876 © Fotoflite Ref 161878 © Fotoflite Ref 161877

© 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 Nicolas Lévy Collection Nicolas Lévy Collection

🆕 Nicolas Lévy Collection (Restored to Hoverpeed livery, May 2001)

Nicolas Lévy Collection

(Livery changed to Hoverlloyd)

September 2004: Due the deterioration of the structure, broken up.

Nicolas Lévy Collection Nicolas Lévy Collection Nicolas Lévy Collection

Nicolas Lévy Collection

© Nicolas Levy © Nicolas Levy

🆕 © 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)

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