The largest section of Britain’s second Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier was recently towed to Rosyth Dockyard from the dock in Glasgow where it was constructed.
BAE Systems posted a fascinating time-lapse to YouTube, detailing the entire journey.
From the YouTube description:
The Aircraft Carrier Alliance welcomed the largest section of the second Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier to Rosyth Dockyard last week, following its voyage from BAE Systems in Glasgow where it was built.
Lower Block 04 is the largest hull section of HMS PRINCE OF WALES, the second of two new aircraft carriers being constructed by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, and contains the hangar, machinery space, mission systems compartments and accommodation.
The 11,200 tonne section of hull was transported by a sea-going barge and travelled around the north coast to reach the assembly site, a journey of more than 600 miles over five days.
On her arrival, the block was floated off of the specialist barge and moved into position in dry dock, ready to join the other sections already in place.
The aircraft carriers HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH and HMS PRINCE OF WALES are being delivered by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, a partnering relationship between BAE Systems, Thales UK, Babcock and the Ministry of Defence.
The Queen Elizabeth Class will be the centrepiece of Britain’s defence capability for the 21st century. Each 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier will provide the armed forces with a four-acre military operating base, which can travel up to 500 miles per day to be deployed anywhere around the world. Operating the Joint Strike Fighter Lightning II jets and a number of types of helicopter, the QE Class will be versatile enough to be used across the full spectrum of military activity from warfighting to providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief.
