Feature 5 | AIRCRAFT CARRIERS Two huge ring sections of Lower Block
02 were joined together in a 30-minute move involving 26 remote-controlled hydraulic transporters. Workers carefully manoeuvred a 3700tonne slice of
the
block over 25m across the company’s production hall, where it was carefully lined up to join the rest of the hull. Te hull block is made up of five rings in total, with the first rings joined in April. Te team at Portsmouth is now working to connect the pipes, cabling, ventilation and machinery which runs throughout the block, before it is transported to Rosyth in April 2012. Housing machinery spaces, stores, and
switchboards, Lower Block 02 will weigh in excess of 6000tonnes on completion, with more than 8500m of pipes and 260,000m of cable installed. Standing more than 70m long and 18m high, the block will house 85 cabins, sleeping over 500 junior crew members on board HMS Queen Elizabeth. Joining the rings of Lower Block 02 took place four weeks after production commenced on the second aircraſt carrier.
Forward island structure More recently, construction on the forward island structure for HMS Queen Elizabeth has also got under way at Portsmouth. The Second Sea Lord and Commander in Chief Naval Home Command, Vice Admiral Charles Montgomery CBE ADC cut the first steel, formally marking the start of production on the island structure. Housing the bridge and navigation
systems for the QE class aircraſt carriers, the forward island is fundamental to the effective command and control of
the
vessel. Te island also includes the vessel’s long-range radar. Designed with a twin-island config-
uration, the QE class will benefit from its flying operations being separated from the running of the vessels, resulting in maximum flexibility and greater control of flight deck operations. BAE Systems will also undertake the build of the aſt island, which will be responsible for all air operations and air traffic control, with production expected to start in the autumn. Earlier in mid-2011, the largest liſting capacity crane in Britain completed
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commissioning at Babcock’s facility at Rosyth. Te Goliath crane is to be used in the assembly and integration of the QE class aircraft carriers by Babcock; its first operational use is anticipated in the autumn of 2011, following a series of proving trials. The partially erected crane arrived at Rosyth earlier this year from China, where it was manufactured. Te last four months have seen a busy programme to erect, test and commission the crane, involving around 100 people. Te massive crane is 68m high to the
underside of the main beams with a span of 120m to straddle the construction area of the new carriers, and a liſt capacity of 1000tonnes. It will be used to liſt and place the carrier sub-blocks and components (including upper block and sponsons, bow block, islands and aircraſt liſts) without
disrupting the dockside area adjacent to the ship.
Flexible lifting capability Te crane’s 1000tonne liſting capacity is provided by three hooks. Te individual capacity of each provides a valuable degree of flexibility in liſting some awkward loads with difficult centres of gravity, and allows units or blocks to be turned over, up to a unit load of 500tonnes. Two of the hooks are suspended from an upper trolley (each hook having a 300tonne capacity) and one from a central, lower, trolley with a 500tonne capacity. While the three hooks have a greater cumulative liſting capacity than 1000tonnes, the total capacity is defined by the crane structure. Te crane was constructed in China by specialist manufacturer Shanghai Zhenhua
The QE class carriers will
have two-island superstructure.
Lower block 03 is moved from the shipbuilding hall at Govan. Warship Technology October 2011
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