VIDEO: HMS Queen Elizabeth’s Forward Island Delivery

VIDEO - HMS Queen Elizabeth’s Forward Island Delivery

The most iconic section of HMS Queen Elizabeth, the Forward Island containing the bridge, begun her delivery journey from the dock hall on HM Naval Base Portsmouth where the first steel was cut just 70 weeks ago.

After leaving the dock hall’s basin and passing through a lock, the Forward Island paused overnight on the outer edge of the naval base ready for an early morning departure. A specialist transportation team from the Aircraft Carrier Alliance then oversaw the Forward Island’s 600 mile journey along the East coast of the UK to Rosyth, where the final assembly of the aircraft carrier is underway.


View on Youtube.

She is the first block to depart with her final paint colours applied, all windows fitted and consoles installed, along with 43km of cables and 3,101 pipes. She also proudly displays the HMS Queen Elizabeth crest. The 680 tonne Forward Island will be lifted onto HMS Queen Elizabeth in March and, after the Long Range Radar has been installed on top, the ship will stand taller than the Niagara Falls at 56 metres.

The aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales are being delivered by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, a unique partnering relationship between BAE Systems, Thales UK, Babcock and the UK Ministry of Defence.

The 65,000 tonne Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers will be the centre piece of the UK’s military capability. On completion, they will be based in Portsmouth where significant investment is already underway to prepare for their arrival a few years from now.

[mappress]
World Maritime News Staff, February 14, 2013; Image: BAE Systems