Engineering news
One of the final sections of the second Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier in Rosyth has been lifted into place in Glasgow.
The 750 tonne block, the aft island, was raised 25 m in the air using the Goliath crane and placed on the deck of HMS Prince of Wales. The section, which is now being assembled, controls aircraft operations aboard HMS Prince of Wales.
The Queen Elizabeth Class are the first aircraft carriers in the world to use a twin-island design. The Aft Island is responsible for the ship’s mission systems and acts as an aircraft control tower. The forward Island contains the bridge and is primarily responsible for the command of the ship.
While each island has a primary role, both are able to incorporate the other’s role in an emergency, increasing the survivability of the ship.
The aft island's journey from Glasgow, where it was constructed, took it 1,335 miles around the south coast of England in order to reach its destination in Fife.
Angus Holt, HMS Prince of Wales delivery director for the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, the consortium building the ships, said the work was a significant milestone: “Thanks to the dedication of thousands of workers across the country we are proud to be delivering this critical capability to the Royal Navy.”
Defence Minister, Philip Dunne, said: "Supported by a £178 billion equipment budget, the carriers - along with our new Lightning II aircraft, which we are buying more quickly - will provide the spearhead of the UK's military capability for the next 50 years, keeping the nation safe at home and protecting our interests abroad."
The second of the Queen Elizabeth Class Carriers, HMS Prince of Wales, will be structurally complete by mid-2016 and will be handed over to the Royal Navy in 2019 with Initial Operating Capability in 2023.
Each of the two 65,000 tonne aircraft carriers will provide the armed forces with a four-acre military operating base, which can be deployed worldwide. The vessels will be versatile enough to be used for operations ranging from supporting war efforts to providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief.
The Aircraft Carrier Alliance includes BAE Systems, Thales UK, Babcock and the Ministry of Defence.