X.127

Name: X.127

Class: 105.5 foot, powered; Nos X.1 - X.200

Launch Date: 1915

Builder: Goole Sbdg. & Repairing Co., Goole

Yard No: 189

Engine: CAMP

Screws:

Other Information:

Water carrier also designated as L.9 from 1917

1921 for disposal at Constantinople

09/1923 towed to Malta

Used as a fuel lighter with unofficial name 'TALBOT'

06/03/1942 sunk during bombing in Marsamxett Harbour, Valletta

Wreck remains a diving site with a fairly complete hull but is threatened (late 2008) due to planned development of a marina.

See David Mallard's video of the wreck and much more about this class of vessel on his website at X-Lighters

See letters by Etienne Micallef in Times of Malta and also by Philip Simons Times of Malta

The protection of the wreck was also supported by a letter from the Yorkshire Waterways Museum at Goole, where the vessel was built.

Good news from Dave Mallard, archaeological diver early In 2011 :

 "I have obtained a class " B " protection order on the wreck of the Water Lighter X 127 [ L 9 ] with a 50 metre. exclusion  zone around it, we can of course still dive on it, but at least it is well protected from the proposed development work at Manoel Island, Malta. The class "B" is very important as its in the same category as Cart Ruts, only the Temples have a class "A". "

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X-Lighter Classes/numbering:

X.001 – X.200: 105.5 foot, powered

X.201 – X.225: 98 foot, powered

DX.001 – DX.025: 98 foot, dumb

MISC.001 – MISC.003: Vessels believed to be former X-lighters, origins untraced

Engine Abbreviations:

‘BOL’ = 2 cyl. ‘hot bulb’ oil engine by J. & C. G. Bolinders Co., Stockholm

‘SVE’ = 2 cyl. oil engine by J. V. Svensin, Augustendal (Avance design)

‘BEAR’ = 2 cyl. oil engine by Wm. Beardmore & Co., Dalmuir</p>

‘CAMP’ = 2 cyl. ‘hot bulb’ oil engine by The Campbell Gas Engine Co. Ltd., Halifax

‘PLE’ = 2 cyl. oil engine by Plenty & Son, Newbury (Kromhout design)

‘SKAN’ = 2 cyl. oil engine by Skandia