Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

[Briani]

No it not CB02 but UB01 top deck section

see this image taken by CJ
from the left
unknown blocks,6 off Dam walls for dock, unknown block ,LB05, UB01(mid section),UB01(upper section),unknown block(by the side of Babcock building),CB02d plus SB03 in dock

Yes sorry you're right.

It's easy to get your CB's mixed up with your UB's.

[cyrilranch]

Babcock Starts 2nd Assembly Cycle on UK's New QE Class Aircraft Carriers at Rosyth

(Source: Babcock International; issued July 5, 2012)

A further milestone has been reached in the assembly of the first of the UK’s new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers by Babcock at Rosyth, where the massive Super Block 03 (SB03) has been moved 90 metres north to meet Lower Block 02 (LB02) in a major hydraulic skidding operation, as part of Assembly Cycle B (the second of the three assembly cycles) which has now begun (June).

The aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales – being delivered by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance (ACA), a unique partnering relationship between BAE Systems, Babcock Thales and the Ministry of Defence – are being built in large individual blocks at six shipyards around the UK, which are then transported to Babcock’s Rosyth facility for final assembly and integration.

Assembly of the first carrier at Rosyth is progressing well, and to schedule. The docking of LB02 (measuring some 60 metres long by 38 metres wide and 21 metres deep and comprising predominantly accommodation compartments with some auxiliary machinery spaces), which arrived from BAE Systems in Portsmouth at the beginning of June, marked the start of Assembly Cycle B.

In this cycle Babcock will integrate LB02 with Lower Block 01 (the forward sections from the keel up to the flight deck, including the bulbous bow), previously built by Babcock at its Appledore shipyard in Devon, and Super Block 03 (SB03) already assembled in the dock.

Assembly Cycle A, successfully completed to schedule by Babcock in May, saw the assembly of Super Block 03, comprising the mid-hull section (LB03) and four sections making up Centre Block 03 (CB03) plus associated sponsons. Outfitting of the nine major upper blocks integrated with LB03 in this cycle, including installation of electrical cabling, mechanical pipe systems, ventilation and fittings and equipment, is scheduled to complete later this year.

Following a critical weighing exercise of the completed SB03, the block was moved out of dock to allow the combined docking of SB03 and the newly arrived LB02. Immediately this docking had been successfully accomplished, Babcock started a highly demanding assembly programme involving one major block lift per week (using the Goliath crane), plus numerous additional lifts, and most recently the major hydraulic skidding operation just completed (end June), which has moved SB03 some 90 metres north to meet LB02. Assembly Cycle B will continue until spring 2013.

Assembly Cycle C will then see assembly of the remaining blocks, including the stern sections and island structures, with the hull fully assembled by 2014.

Babcock Warship Programmes Director Sean Donaldson commented: “To date Babcock has achieved or bettered the programme schedule milestones for block erection and completion of steelwork integration. The start of Assembly Cycle B is an intensive period and we are focusing the team on continuing to deliver successfully and to-schedule.”

The 65,000 tonne QE Class aircraft carriers will be the UK’s largest (280 metres long, 74 metres wide, and 56 metres high) and most powerful warships, providing the armed forces with four acre military operating bases that can be deployed worldwide.

-ends-

[Magnificent]

I wish she would come visit vancouver once she's done. I mean, if we can handle all those luxury liners I'm sure we could fit her somewhere. Oh and maybe a type 45 while they're at it.

Welcome to Vancouver. We are long overdue for a visit from the Royal Navy - the last was HMS MANCHESTER and one of the Type 21 class frigates in 1986. I remember touring a fairly new HMS FIFE & GLAMORGAN in 1968. To my knowledge the last visit from an RN fleet carrier would likely have been HMS IMPLACABLE in October 1945 during the repatriation voyages by the BPF at the end of World War Two. We used to see a lot of RFAs when the British Army was still exercising in Manitoba.

[Magnificent]

Originally Posted by SDLFLICKR UPDATES!!!!!!!


Skidding 13,000 tonnes of carrier by QEClassCarriers, on Flickr


SB03 gets closer to LB02 by QEClassCarriers, on Flickr


The join gets closer by QEClassCarriers, on Flickr


Nearly there! by QEClassCarriers, on Flickr


The front of HMS Queen Elizabeth revealed! by QEClassCarriers, on Flickr


The join - almost seamless! by QEClassCarriers, on Flickr

Great images anyone know what the "holes" in the bottom of the sponson are in the last image under the gangplank.

I have been reviewing the latest images illustrating the addition of CB02e and the skid forward of SB03, all of which are excellent and much appreciated. A few things I have noticed:

In the first image it is interesting to see the paint stripped away in preparation for the exterior welds, but that the welding had yet to start (or reach this point) at the time SB03 was skidded forward. That suggests to me that it could be some time before we see another lift.

In the second and third images I see a fair amount of undulation in the deck edges to be joined, and I am wondering how these would be rendered straight and level prior to the joint. One also see the many temporary terminations of cabling and piping which no doubt will be joined permanently once the welding crews are done.

We have had a prior discussion before on the openings at the bottom of the sponsons and I don't think we ever arrived at an answer. It would be interesting to know. Ships boats would be the most plausible explanation.

CJ - Sorry to see the soggy weather - after a very wet June our summer has arrived very quickly with lots of hot weather in the forecast. I decided not to visit the UK this summer with Olympics on and it looks like I would have been disappointed weatherwise if I had gone over. Hopefully the summer of 2013 will be brighter for my next summer visit.

Looking forward to the future lifts - onward and upward!

[SDL]

interesting to hear that we're getting the first F35B on July 19th....

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/art...d|Flightglobal

[Liger30]

Next year they will also firmly order the first "production" F35B. They have placed long lead orders already. It'll be part of LRIP 7.

Problem is, it's only one. In 2014 they'll better order a good few more than that as part of LRIP 8, or there is never going to be enough planes to achieve any kind of IOC by 2019.
Delivery comes 3 years after long lead order/ 2 years after firm order, indicatively, so to have the first squadron hitting land IOC in 2019 and then sea IOC in 2021, planes have to be ordered pretty early on.

Besides, the new Tornado OSD is 2019, so the RAF will need the first F35B squadron to be up and working towards IOC just for maintaining a paltry 6 fast jet squadrons in force.

[Captain Thundebolt]

Next year they will also firmly order the first "production" F35B. They have placed long lead orders already. It'll be part of LRIP 7.

Problem is, it's only one. In 2014 they'll better order a good few more than that as part of LRIP 8, or there is never going to be enough planes to achieve any kind of IOC by 2019.
Delivery comes 3 years after long lead order/ 2 years after firm order, indicatively, so to have the first squadron hitting land IOC in 2019 and then sea IOC in 2021, planes have to be ordered pretty early on.

Besides, the new Tornado OSD is 2019, so the RAF will need the first F35B squadron to be up and working towards IOC just for maintaining a paltry 6 fast jet squadrons in force.

I am under the impression that all LRIP aircraft will stay in the states for some time for training and evaluation work, the only operational aircraft will come from Block 3 and onwards not sure if that correct or not.


I am only going on Australia’s case as LRIP aircraft will become test and evaluation aircraft and will stay in the US only block 3 aircraft will go to Australia.

[Pymes75]

On monday i'll try and ask on Twitter to the ACA if they can tell us something about CVF's ship boat arrangement and LCVPs... Hoping to hear that davits and LCVPs do make it into the design, but not much confident in it.

I tried asking the British Army is GMLRS will be lost along with its regiment, 39 Royal Artillery, but they did not asnwer

Well, it was worth a try, at least.

I've had another look at the CVF schematic from a JNI article in 2005 and it clearly shows two RIBs located in the sponsons: 1x Port Side opposite the Forward Lift * (Ring 'K') and 1x Starboard Side just aft of the Rear Lift (Ring 'R')



* The larger hole that I believe we can see in the recent ACA pictures

[EliteF22]

I am under the impression that all LRIP aircraft will stay in the states for some time for training and evaluation work, the only operational aircraft will come from Block 3 and onwards not sure if that correct or not.


I am only going on Australia’s case as LRIP aircraft will become test and evaluation aircraft and will stay in the US only block 3 aircraft will go to Australia.

I thought the same as Captain Thundebolt. Since all the LRIP aircrafts will need to be modified continually to bring them up to the initial operational standard as problems are found and modifications are made, it would make sense to keep them close.

[Jdam1]

I've had another look at the CVF schematic from a JNI article in 2005 and it clearly shows two RIBs located in the sponsons: 1x Port Side opposite the Forward Lift * (Ring 'K') and 1x Starboard Side just aft of the Rear Lift (Ring 'R')



* The larger hole that I believe we can see in the recent ACA pictures

Thats a very nice spot, it seems like the hole will be for small boats, the location is the same as the pic above.

[jonas]

So it would appear that the MOD wants four 'SPEAR' to fit into the bay of F35B and MBDA is working on that.

Farnborough 2012: SPEAR penetrates the market

09 July 2012 - 6:00 by Beth Stevenson in London
MBDA is introducing its Selective Precision Effects at Range (SPEAR) Capability 3 offering for the first time at the Farnborough International Airshow.
Speaking to a media briefing at the company’s UK base in Stevenage on 26 June, Rob Thornley, export working group leader for MBDA, said the self-titled system is based around the weapons bay for the F-35 Lightning II.
‘We’re looking at four [SPEAR] in the bay for F-35,’ Thornley explained. ‘You want to get as many as you can out there to reach the range. Four in the bay in the F-35 is the requirement. The UK requirement is very robust.’
The UK MoD wants fighter aircraft to have an advanced net-centric stand-off air-to-ground weapon with a multi-load output for the F-35.
‘In the UK we would be looking for a Meteor and SPEAR fit,’ he explained, so that there would be eight SPEAR and two MBDA-developed Meteor to each aircraft.
‘This is early days in the programme, so we’re not here with a fixed and final design. We learnt a lot from Libya in particular; what you need for an effective air-to-ground missile.
‘We are operating with three fins and plan to have a new launcher which will carry four weapons upside down.’
He said the weapons MBDA is competing against for the programme will be similar, with all trying to ‘cram in’ four weapons: ‘It’s not a very nice environment in the bay, and some manufacturers struggle with that.’
SPEAR has a multi-mode seeker, multi-effects warhead, GPS/INS with datalink to provide target updates mid-course, and turbojet propulsion. ‘With a propulsion system we are much less affected by environmental conditions,’ Thornley explained.
MBDA has not decided on an engine manufacturer yet, and may look to the US for this.
‘It’s about ITAR avoidance and management more than anything; it’s extremely difficult to be ITAR-free,’ Thornley said. ‘There are a lot of challenges with any weapon design nowadays.’
MBDA has an assessment-phased programme through to 2014, awarded in March 2010, after which it will enter the demonstration and manufacture stage, and a mature design is expected at the end of this stage in 2018.

With thanks to 'Shephardmedia.com'

[cyrilranch]

I've had another look at the CVF schematic from a JNI article in 2005 and it clearly shows two RIBs located in the sponsons: 1x Port Side opposite the Forward Lift * (Ring 'K') and 1x Starboard Side just aft of the Rear Lift (Ring 'R')





* The larger hole that I believe we can see in the recent ACA pictures

What are the 3 boat-like units to the left of the rib and on the other side?

[Pymes75]

What are the 3 boat-like units to the left of the rib and on the other side?

Good question! I'm really not sure. It would be easy to image them as LCVPs, but they could equally be large HVAC units or such like!!

[wolf321]

What are the 3 boat-like units to the left of the rib and on the other side?

They look like tenders; they are far too small for LCVPs.

[jonas]

They look like tenders; they are far too small for LCVPs.

I would agree that they are tenders,remember ships of this size on deployement will not be able to berth alongside in some ports. With a crew of around 700 rising to approx 1500 with embarked air wing,they will need tenders of this size.