Aft island of HMS Queen Elizabeth installed on the Aircraft Carrier

: Posted On Friday, 28 June 2013 20:37

Naval Industry News - UK

Aft island of HMS Queen Elizabeth installed on the Aircraft Carrier

THE AFT island of HMS Queen Elizabeth was lowered into place by Aircraft Carrier Alliance workers in a historic ceremony today (June 28). At the sound of airhorns operated by apprentices Gordon Currie (19) and Chris McArthur (22), teams operating the Goliath crane lowered the iconic section, known as Upper Block 14, the final few feet into place.

The island being lowered into position
(Picture: Aircraft Carrier Alliance)

And as the 750 tonne section settled on the flightdeck it sealed into place a plaque, embedding the emblems of the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force and the British Army into the very fabric of the ship for its entire lifespan. Handing the plaque over to the Aircraft Carrier Alliance were Capt Dickie Payne of the Royal Navy, Colonel Stuart Barnard of the Army Air Corp and Group Captain David Bradshaw of the RAF.

Programme Director Ian Booth said: “Moving this section move place is a momentous occasion for the programme. HMS Queen Elizabeth now has a completely unique and distinctive profile and thanks to the dedication of thousands of workers just a few sections remain to be assembled. She will be structurally complete by the end of this year.”

The aft island was the final section of HMS Queen Elizabeth to arrive at the Rosyth assembly site. It was constructed in 90 weeks by workers at BAE Systems’ yard in Scotstoun and will house the ship’s air traffic control equipment, making it the centre of all on-board flight operations.

Apprentice Gordon Currie (19) said: “It is a huge honour to sound the horn and signal the final stage in the lift. I am just one of hundreds of workers working on this incredible ship, and it is something I will always be really proud of.”

Weighing in at more than 750 tonnes, and standing more than 30 metres tall, the aft island is the second ‘island’ on HMS Queen Elizabeth. The forward island houses the ship’s main bridge. The aft island provides air traffic control.

Rear Admiral Steve Brunton said: “HMS Queen Elizabeth will be at the centre of the UKs defence capability for the fifty years she is expected to be in service. She will be absolutely unique and, combined with assets across the rest of the UK’s armed forces, will provide this country with an unprecedented level of capability, protecting UK interests and providing humanitarian support across the globe.”

HMS Queen Elizabeth is the first aircraft carrier to use an innovative design of two islands. The forward island, which has already been erected, houses the ship’s bridge. The aft island will house the air traffic control systems.

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.

Captain Dickie Payne of the Royal Navy, Colonel Stuart Barnard of the Army Air Corp and Group Captain David Bradshaw of the RAF with a plaque (separate image shows detail) which was embedded under the island
(Picture: Aircraft Carrier Alliance)

(Picture: Aircraft Carrier Alliance)