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The 130 tonne section is the final piece of the 65,000
tonne HMS Queen Elizabeth’s main hull to be moved into position
and signals the end of an important chapter in the delivery of the nation’s
flagships.
Only the aircraft lifts and the radar remain to be lifted into place
by Goliath.
Programme Director, Ian Booth said: “This event means a pivotal
chapter in the delivery of HMS Queen Elizabeth has been completed. The
ship here in the dock is a truly magnificent sight.
“Everyone involved in the programme to deliver HMS Queen Elizabeth
should feel tremendously proud of what we have all achieved to get to
this point. Thousands of men and women across the country have worked
together as one team in a remarkable demonstration of British skills
and capabilities.
“This vessel will play a historic role in the defence of this
nation for generations to come.
“Now our focus turns towards fitting HMS Queen Elizabeth with
the sensitive electronics and systems she will need ahead of her leaving
the dock for the first time next summer, while work continues across
the country on the second of class, HMS Prince of Wales.”
HMS Queen Elizabeth was constructed in sections all over the UK. As
the sections were completed they were brought to Rosyth where the ship
has been assembled. 10,000 people are employed on the programme to deliver
HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, with hundreds of British
business benefitting from contracts worth more than £1.6billion
to local economies across the country.
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.
Facts
· The final ramp section weighs 130 tonnes
· The ramp stands more than six metres high
· It is the last of five sections of ramp, all built in Rosyth.
· Together they weigh almost 300 tonnes.
· The ramp or ‘ski-jump’ is a British innovation
and allows aircraft to take off with greater payloads.
· Only the aircraft lifts and the long range radar remain to
be lifted by Goliath. This is the last section of the ship's main hull.
· Construction of the major hull sections of ship two is now
well underway.
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