Fire Engines Photos

This was the first Bikini Unit fully restored and equipped by my good friend the late John Pamenter, if would like to e-mail me I will give you as much information as possible.

Added by Brett Clayton on 10 July 2012.

if you click on my name my email is there. Leicester city fire brigade museum society are looking information as its going to Belgrave hall on the 27th-30th july. They are asking for any pictures or information on the vehicle.

Added by John Elliott on 10 July 2012.

Memory: - taking an AFS convoy from Edinburgh to Dalcross outside Inverness (mid-sixties) launched three Bikini rafts into the Moray Firth to supply water ashore to feed a 6" pipeline closed relay down to the exercise site. Waves splashed over the rafts, drowned the pumps. Two rafts, no problem, held by connected hose. Third raft starts drifting, the issued paddles won't do it. But the incoming tide washed them ashore a wee bitty down the beach. Itrepid matelots step ashore!

Added by Colin Foster on 11 July 2012.

There is a short video on you tube of Bikini rafts at work on the river Dee in North Wales. It was a combined tac ex at RAF Sealand with brigades from all over Wales.

Added by Dave Price on 12 July 2012.

There are a couple of videos on YouTube of the rafts in use the training one from 1963 is a good one.


Added by John Elliott on 23 July 2012.

The prototype bikini unit was on a Bedford chassis it was only later they moved to the Commer. I have been looking at some pictures of the inital trails with it and other AFS equipment way back in the early 1950's. An old Liverpool fireman was on an eight month detatchment at riegate. he has started to put the pictures on a forum that we have for ex members of Merseyside fire brigade. well worth a look. for more info PM me

Added by Dave Price on 24 July 2012.

Hi, guys, what is a 'bikini unit'? I thought a bikini was something that hot girls wear!

Added by Tiger on 10 February 2013.

Tiger, from what I gather Bikini refers to the make of inflatable raft carried by the unit.
The Bikinis that 'hot girls' nearly wear these days date back to the sixties, but two piece swim wear originated in Ancient Greece and Rome.

Added by Chris Hall on 10 February 2013.

I was once told that the 'Bikini units' were called after Bikini Atoll in the pacific where the nuclear bomb tests were carried out. As the AFS were focussed on a nuclear exchange this seemed credible at the time. Maybe now, looking back, it was just a convenient linking of words.

Added by Colin Foster on 10 February 2013.

The correct name for these is Transportable Water Unit.It got shortened to Bikini Unit. As with the pumps they were Emergency Pump's not Green Goddess.

Added by Dave Price on 11 February 2013.

How were the rafts inflated?

Added by Simon woods on 11 February 2013.

Yes Dave, TWU's they indeed were. The rafts were blown up with cold air blowers (like overgrown hair dryers}or by big foot pump bellows. I do remember these rafts were very heavy when made up in their canvas carry bags.

Added by Colin Foster on 11 February 2013.

Thanks, Chris an Colin! Much appreciated!

Added by Tiger on 23 February 2013.

In Cardiff the rafts were inflated using integral air or co2 cylinders, the foot pumps were for topping up if necessary. I suppose in wartime cylinder recharging facilities would not be available. We used the rafts regularly in Cardiff Docks mainly on the East and West Docks.

Added by Tony Madsen on 24 February 2013.

When I was in the AFS, one exercise which I took part in was in London Docklands and I was driving a bikini unit in one of the docks. I had four of the pumps and the fifth was connected to a short hose which acted as the propulsion mechanism like a rudder (just like modern lifeboats using waterjets)

Added by Robert Wallis on 18 March 2024.

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