When the RNLI took over control of the Aberdeen Lifeboat in 1925, it also took over the running of the city's two rocket propelled Life Saving Apparatus teams, a unique arrangement as all other Rocket Brigades were run by HM Coastguard.

The team based at Footdee covered Northwards of the coastline from the River Dee and the Torry team covered Southwards.

The equipment was kept in handcarts and pushed to the scene of a stricken vessel from where rockets would then be fired with lines to the casualty and her crew would come ashore.