On the River Test close to Marchwood Military Port.
WB42 DIABLO towing a Mexeflote

51 (Port) Squadron RLC have four Army Work Boats.
The four are named WB41 Storm, WB42 Diablo, WB43 Mistral and WB44 Sirocco.
They are 14.75m x 4.3m, weigh 48 tonnes, have a top speed of 10 knots and are equipped with firefighting equipment. When deployed they are usually carried as deck cargo on a specially designed cradle and craned to the surface as needed.
The Army Workboat can be used as tugs for Mexeflote’s, positioning other pontoon equipment and for handling flexible pipelines.
Built by Warbreck Engineering, Liverpool, UK

After an assault phase the amphibious force will need to land supplies and vehicles in bulk and the Mexeflote system is an incredibly versatile, used as a powered raft, causeway between vessels , utility platform, jetties or other floating structure . Modular Z Drive propulsion units from Sykes Hyrdromaster provide the motive force when used as a powered raft and although it might not look particularly seaworthy can be used in 1.5m wave conditions. The pontoons come in three types, a bow, centre and stern that can be connected together in a number of configurations as required. The large Maxi-Mexeflote c an carry nearly 2oo tonnes and are normally carried on the Bay Class Landing Ship Dock(Auxiliary). If the Bay class can get close enough to the shore the Mexeflote pontoons can be configured as a causeway so vehicles can drive directly from the ship to shore. Pontoon sections are ingeniously sized to be compatible with ISO container dimensions for ease of transport and handling.