The Mexeflote is a landing raft used by the United Kingdom's Royal Logistic Corps and the Royal Australian Navy to move goods and vehicles between ship and shore. It was first used by British military in the 1960s. It was used during the Falklands conflict, and has been used in humanitarian aid missions. The system is very similar to the Rhino ferry.
The Mexeflote was introduced to the UK military in the 1960s,[1] and it subsequently saw service in the Falklands War, in which three units were used,[2] including in Southampton, where they were used in loading the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Navy ships going to the Falklands.[3] Mexeflotes were used as causeways between ships in the open ocean, stores were driven between ships over a mexeflote causeway with Fiat Allis forklifts.[4] Sgt Boultby of 17 Port Regiment, RCT was awarded the Military Medal for using his Mexeflote to rescue survivors at Bluff Cove.[5]
In 1994, the Army ordered an additional 50 units, and in 2000 they upgraded 60 of the rafts.[1] The Mexeflote was used during the 2010 Haiti earthquake, to transport supplies to the remote Haitian village of Anse-à-Veau from RFA Largs Bay.[6]
Currently the rafts are crewed by the Royal Logistic Corps and they are largely used by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary's Bay class landing ships.[2] As part of the Royal Australian Navy's acquisition of the Bay class ship RFA Largs Bay (renamed HMAS Choules for Australian service), two Mexeflotes were also acquired.[7]
A Mexeflote suspended from the starboard flank of HMAS Choules
Mexeflote transporting disaster relief teams ashore from RFA Lyme Bay
Royal Logistics Corps Mexflote arrives in Anguilla
Mexifloat unloading on the beach at Grand Tuck with Heavy Plant for use in the rebuild after the hurricane
Design
Mexeflote is a powered raft (two diesel engines), used to move goods and vehicles between ship and shore when a pier is not available.[8] The Mexeflote is designed in three sizes;
Each version has three components; bow, stern, and centre, which can be fitted together as required, making the Mexeflote a versatile craft.[8][10] The different sections allow it to be used as a raft, a floating pontoon, or as a causeway from ship to shore.[1]
Mexeflote was the basis for the design of the Modular Elevated Causeway.[11]
References
^ abcd"Tactical floating bridges and ferries", Jane's Military Vehicles and Logistics, Jane's, 27 April 2009, retrieved 18 May 2010
^ ab. www.britains-smallwars.com. Archived from the original on 11 December 2009. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
^Puddefoot, Geoff (2009). "Appendix 4". The Fourth Force. Major Robin H G Barton, MBE. Seaforth. ISBN978-1-84832-046-8.
^"Over the Shore Logistics - San Carlos and Beyond - Think Defence".
^"Over the Shore Logistics - San Carlos and Beyond - Think Defence".
^"RFA Largs Bay delivers aid to isolated Haitian village". www.mod.uk. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
^*. News. Royal Australian Navy. Archived from the original on 30 August 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
^ ab. www.army.mod.uk. Archived from the original on 8 April 2009. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
^ abc"Landing Craft and Assault Boats; Mexeflote". www.army.mod.uk. Archived from the original on 27 December 2004. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
^"What is a Mexeflote". www.thinkdefence.co.uk. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
^"Modular Causeway Systems". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
Further reading
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mexeflote.
Operational Testing of the Mexeflote Lashing and Launching System for Pontoon Causeways. - August 1970. Billie R. Karrh; James J. Traffalis; Naval Civil Engineering Lab.
January 05, 2023
mexeflote, landing, raft, used, united, kingdom, royal, logistic, corps, royal, australian, navy, move, goods, vehicles, between, ship, shore, first, used, british, military, 1960s, used, during, falklands, conflict, been, used, humanitarian, missions, system,. The Mexeflote is a landing raft used by the United Kingdom s Royal Logistic Corps and the Royal Australian Navy to move goods and vehicles between ship and shore It was first used by British military in the 1960s It was used during the Falklands conflict and has been used in humanitarian aid missions The system is very similar to the Rhino ferry MexefloteA Mexeflote raftTypeLanding raftPlace of origin United KingdomSpecificationsLengthStandard 20 12 m 66 0 ft Maxi 38 41 m 126 0 ft WidthStandard 7 42 m 24 3 ft Maxi 12 20 m 40 0 ft Crew6Engine2 x Hydromaster 6cyl diesel at 75 hp each or 2x Thrustmaster OD150N Propulsion Units150 hp combinedPayload capacityStandard 60 000 kg 130 000 lb Larger 120 000 kg 260 000 lb Largest 180 000 kg 400 000 lb Contents 1 History 2 Design 3 References 4 Further readingHistory EditThe Mexeflote was introduced to the UK military in the 1960s 1 and it subsequently saw service in the Falklands War in which three units were used 2 including in Southampton where they were used in loading the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Navy ships going to the Falklands 3 Mexeflotes were used as causeways between ships in the open ocean stores were driven between ships over a mexeflote causeway with Fiat Allis forklifts 4 Sgt Boultby of 17 Port Regiment RCT was awarded the Military Medal for using his Mexeflote to rescue survivors at Bluff Cove 5 In 1994 the Army ordered an additional 50 units and in 2000 they upgraded 60 of the rafts 1 The Mexeflote was used during the 2010 Haiti earthquake to transport supplies to the remote Haitian village of Anse a Veau from RFA Largs Bay 6 Currently the rafts are crewed by the Royal Logistic Corps and they are largely used by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary s Bay class landing ships 2 As part of the Royal Australian Navy s acquisition of the Bay class ship RFA Largs Bay renamed HMAS Choules for Australian service two Mexeflotes were also acquired 7 A Mexeflote suspended from the starboard flank of HMAS Choules RFA Lyme Bay L3007 with a Mexeflote on its port side Mexeflote transporting disaster relief teams ashore from RFA Lyme Bay Royal Logistics Corps Mexflote arrives in Anguilla Mexifloat unloading on the beach at Grand Tuck with Heavy Plant for use in the rebuild after the hurricaneDesign EditMexeflote is a powered raft two diesel engines used to move goods and vehicles between ship and shore when a pier is not available 8 The Mexeflote is designed in three sizes Type Length Width Capacity RefStandard size 20 12 m 66 0 ft 7 32 m 24 0 ft 60 000 kg 130 000 lb 9 Larger versions Maxi Mexeflote 1 38 41 m 126 0 ft 7 32 m 24 0 ft 120 000 kg 260 000 lb 9 38 41 m 126 0 ft 12 2 m 40 ft 180 000 kg 400 000 lb 9 Each version has three components bow stern and centre which can be fitted together as required making the Mexeflote a versatile craft 8 10 The different sections allow it to be used as a raft a floating pontoon or as a causeway from ship to shore 1 Mexeflote was the basis for the design of the Modular Elevated Causeway 11 References Edit a b c d Tactical floating bridges and ferries Jane s Military Vehicles and Logistics Jane s 27 April 2009 retrieved 18 May 2010 a b The Landing Ships and Landing Craft www britains smallwars com Archived from the original on 11 December 2009 Retrieved 24 March 2010 Puddefoot Geoff 2009 Appendix 4 The Fourth Force Major Robin H G Barton MBE Seaforth ISBN 978 1 84832 046 8 Over the Shore Logistics San Carlos and Beyond Think Defence Over the Shore Logistics San Carlos and Beyond Think Defence RFA Largs Bay delivers aid to isolated Haitian village www mod uk Retrieved 24 March 2010 HMAS Choules commissioned News Royal Australian Navy Archived from the original on 30 August 2012 Retrieved 21 December 2013 a b Mexeflote Raft www army mod uk Archived from the original on 8 April 2009 Retrieved 24 March 2010 a b c Landing Craft and Assault Boats Mexeflote www army mod uk Archived from the original on 27 December 2004 Retrieved 18 May 2010 What is a Mexeflote www thinkdefence co uk Retrieved 24 March 2010 Modular Causeway Systems www globalsecurity org Retrieved 24 March 2010 Further reading Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mexeflote Operational Testing of the Mexeflote Lashing and Launching System for Pontoon Causeways August 1970 Billie R Karrh James J Traffalis Naval Civil Engineering Lab Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mexeflote amp oldid 1086563676, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
