Category: Coastguard

TYO 286S This is a HM Coastguard Land Rover that was new in 1977.

HF51 USB Here is coastguard rescue helicopter Victor Alpha alongside a coastguard Land Rover.



Here is the helicopter and Land Rover again among the scenic landscape where they spend most of their time.

W899 PCG This is a HM Coastguard Nissan Terrano II based at Lee-on-Solent. It is decked out in the usual blue and yellow paint scheme, with blue lights on the roof. Unusually the rear window has also been covered with yellow. The reason for this becomes clear when you see the side view.



The side view of the same Terrano. The two crests on the rearmost windows are HM Coastguard and Hampshire Ambulance Service. This car carries medical equipment in the rear as a Co-response Unit. If it closer to a medical emergency than an ambulance, it will respond.

X282 WCG A CG Ford Focus is parked up with blue lights showing at a night-time cliff-top exercise.

NL52 HNW This blue Land Rover Discovery is carrying a liveried roof-box with ‘Medical Team’ wording. On the sun visor is a fold down ‘Coastguard Rescue’ sign. The vehicle itself does not carry any livery on the bodywork. The rear of the roof-box shows that it is run by ‘Lifeline Medical Transport Service’.

V918 DAA is a CG Toyota Hi-Lux, assisting with the landing of a rescue helicopter callsign ‘Rescue 177’ from HMS Gannet, Prestwick.

G-GDIJ This is a coastguard rescue helicopter, which is similar in appearance to a Royal Navy resuce helicopter, however this one is launched by the coastguard to help rescue (by winching) or transport injured people on or near seas and rivers. Its callsign is ‘Rescue India Juliet’. This is denoted by ‘IJ’ being written on the nose of the aircraft, and is formed from the last two letters of its air registration.

This is a Bournemouth 03-registered Nissan Navara Coastguard vehicle. After extensive on and off-road trials, this Nissan was put into operation in 2004. It is pictured on the seafront at Margate, Kent.

A Toyota 4×4 Coastguard vehicle.

V502 DHO and HJ52 SYZ On the right is a Toyota Landcruiser and on the left is a Ford Focus coastguard vehicle.

HF03 GWZ is a 2003 Toyota which is being used by Her Majesty’s Coastguard. The vehicle is suited to the terrain coastguards need to cover, as demonstrated in this picture.

This Toyota Land Cruiser Colorado is used by Her Majesty’s Coastguard. The advantage of having four wheel drive is immense when on a wet beach or a rocky coastal area.

The sector manager uses this type of Ford Escort estate.

P466 WCG is a Vauxhall 4×4.

W506 DHO is a Toyota Land Cruiser four wheel drive.



The rear view.

A rather steep incline is no problem for the coastguard in their 4WD Toyota!

M925 KJT is a Land Rover Defender 90.

K589 VEL is a Vauxhall Astravan. Note the distinctive dark blue and yellow livery which is unique to this emergency service.

J163 PRU This is a Vauxhall Frontera conversion from the coastguard’s fleet, with an inset of their emblem from the driver’s door.

G925 MTV This image shows a vehicle belonging to Sunderland Volunteer Life Brigade. They are a coastguard declared facility providing coastal search and cliff rescue capabilities between Sunderland and South Shields and are not, as is commonly misunderstood, lifeguards.



A second view of the Land Rover.

This is a custom built Land Rover (constructed by Land Rover Special Vehicles in 1996) adapted for coast rescue operations. It is owned by South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade and is the only example of such a vehicle in the UK.