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The Fleetwood Sea Cadet Harbour Launch

OUT ALL DAY Fleetwood, Lancashire. At 11.40 a.m. on i8th June, 1965, the coastguard reported that the Royal Navy frigate H.M.S. Blackpool, which was anchored off Blackpool, had the Fleetwood sea cadet harbour launch alongside, badly damaged. As the weather was deteriorating H.M.S. Blackpool intended to make for a more sheltered anchorage, but could not tow the launch. The life-boat Ann Letitia Russell was launched at 11.50 in a south-westerly gale and a very rough sea. The tide was flooding. The lifeboat took the launch in tow at 12.25, but when they had nearly reached the shore the launch's stern broke away and she sank. About an hour later the life-boat was informed that a boat had overturned, but after searching for nearly half-an-hour it was established that it was the launch that had been observed. Then the lifeboat was requested by H.M.S. Blackpool to bring half the frigate's company, who were ashore, back on board. This operation was carried out in three trips and the life-boat reached her station finally at 9.30 p.m..