Feature 4 | AIRCRAFT CARRIERS


Coming together - Queen Elizabeth class construction moves forward


Construction of HMS Queen Elizabeth, the first of two new aircraſt carriers being built for the UK Royal Navy, took a significant step forward in early April as two sections of Lower Block 04 (LB04) were brought together for the first time.


U sing a fleet of 132 remote-


controlled transporters, a huge section, weighing over 4000tonnes,


was carefully manoeuvred 100m across specially reinforced concrete. In a two-hour move, the section was carefully lined up with the rest of the block, which will collectively form the aſt section of the hull. Workers then began the painstaking process of aligning the units and closing the 5cm gap over the next week, in preparation for welding the block together. Steven Carroll, Queen Elizabeth class


project director at BAE Systems, said: “Bringing together Lower Block 04 marks the beginning of an exciting stage in the block’s life. Once the link up is complete, the team will shiſt their focus back to the outfitting of the block, including installing 12,000 pipes and 100,000km of cables, ahead of her departure to Rosyth later this year.” Housing the two main engine rooms, a


medical area and accommodation, LB04 will weigh in excess of 11,000tonnes on completion, standing over 23m tall, 86m long and 40m. Te block, which will be transported to Rosyth in the autumn, will be the last hull section of HMS Queen Elizabeth to arrive and will join the other units and sections of the ship in dry dock where she is being assembled. At Govan, work also continues on the


mid-section of the second ship, HMS Prince of Wales. Since the first steel was cut on this section in May 2011, more than 80 units of LB03 have entered into production. Meanwhile, workers at BAE Systems in Portsmouth were gearing up for the transit of Lower Block 05 and Lower Block 02 of HMS Queen Elizabeth to Rosyth at the end of April and May respectively. Work on the forward section of the hull of HMS Prince of Wales also recently got


26


The two sections of Lower Block 04 on HMS Queen Elizabeth are brought together.


under way at BAE Systems in Portsmouth Naval Base, the future home of the Queen Elizabeth class. Work on the forward section of the hull,


known as Lower Block 02, commenced as Commander-in-Chief Fleet, Admiral George Zambellas, cut the first steel in a ceremony at the company’s production facility. The section, which will weigh around 6000tonnes upon completion, will house the ship’s machinery spaces, stores and switchboards, as well as some of the accommodation, including 85 cabins. Construction of the forward island,


which will control vessel navigation and house the ship’s bridge, is also underway at Portsmouth, while work continues on Lower Block 02 and the stern section (known as Lower Block 05) of HMS Queen Elizabeth. At the time of writing, both sections were in the advanced stages of outfit, with the team focusing on preparing the blocks for their transit to Rosyth later


this year, where all of the units and sections of the carriers will come together to be assembled in the dry dock. Integration and testing of the ship’s


complex mission system is currently underway at


the company’s Maritime


Integration and Support Centre on Portsdown Hill, whilst teams of engineers from BAE Systems and Tales are testing the advanced communications systems for the ships. Elsewhere,


Kempsafe Limited has


Southampton-based contracts


to


supply galley and laundry equipment on the vessels and Portsmouth-based Selex Communications is involved in the design of the Identification Friend or Foe system. A significant plan of investment is


underway to enhance the naval base, which will become the home of the two aircraſt carriers when they enter service. Te plan, which will cost approximately £140 million (US$221 million), includes dredging the


Warship Technology May 2012


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