SR.N6 of Hovertravel on the Solent, 1982 |
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | SR.N6 Winchester class |
| Builders: | British Hovercraft Corporation |
| Preceded by: | SR.N5 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | hovercraft |
| Displacement: | 10.9 tons |
| Length: | 17.78 metres |
| Beam: | 7.97 metres |
| Height: | 6.32 m (on cushion) |
| Propulsion: | 1 Rolls-Royce Gnome turbine engines 1050 horsepower for lift and propulsion driving single four-bladed variable pitch propeller |
| Speed: | 50 knots |
| Range: | 170 miles at 30 knots |
| Capacity: | 58 seated passengers |
| Crew: | 3 |
The Saunders-Roe (later British Hovercraft Corporation) SR.N6 hovercraft (also known as the Winchester class) was a larger version of the earlier SR.N5 series. It incorporated several features that resulted in it quickly becoming the most produced and successful hovercraft design in the world. Compared to the SR.N5, the SR.N6 Mk.1 was stretched in length, with over double the seating capacity.
While the SR.N2 and SR.N5s operated in commercial service as trials craft, the SR.N6 was the first production craft to enter commercial service. The Mk.1 entered production in 1965, while the Mk.8 continues in production today. Experience with the design would lead to the very large automobile ferry SR.N4, which is no longer in service.
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After initial trials the prototype was operated by Scandinavian Hovercraft Promotions of Oslo, Norway under the name 'Scanhover'. It entered service in June 1965 and it was later joined by 011. They operated on a 120 mile route, with six stopping points, in the Aalesund area. These craft were later operated between Aarhus and Kalundborg in Denmark and in February and March 1966 also successfully underwent cold weather trials in Sweden, in the Gulf of Bothnia.
The increase length of the SR.N6 allowed it to accommodate 38 passengers instead of the 18 carried by the SR.N5. It was subsequently extending again to accommodate a further 20 passengers. This made SR.N6 commercial operations much more viable than any previous hovercraft design. By eventually increasing the capacity to 58 seats the Mk.1S became the first hovercraft capable of transporting a typical coach load of people.
Military variants have seen service with the Italian Navy, Egyptian Navy, Iraqi Navy (Mk 6C), Imperial Iranian Navy and the Saudi Arabian Frontier Force.
The Canadian Coast Guard recently decommissioned its last SR.N6 that was in active service, commissioned as CCGH 045.
The original prototype SR.N6 Mk.1 (009) is currently on display at the Hovercraft Museum in Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire, England. With 22,000 hours of service over a twenty year period it is the world's most extensively operated hovercraft. The museum has several other SR.N6 on display or in various states of restoration. One is operational and occasionally used for demonstrations.
(Military configuration) The SR.N6 class is capable of carrying 55 fully equipped troops, or 6 tons of equipment.
The SR.N6 has been the subject of two popular toy versions. A small metal replica was produced for over twenty years by Matchbox Toys, while a much larger die-cast version was produced in the 1970s by Dinky Toys. A 12.7 cm model was released by Matchbox in 1974 as part of their Super Kings range.[1]
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