Royal Navy Second Aircraft Carrier HMS Prince of Wales' Hull Completed

Photo source: BAE Systems

By: Wording OD

The second of the largest warships ever built for the Royal Navy, the Queen Elizabeth Class carrier HMS PRINCE OF WALES, was given the royal seal of approval when HRH The Prince of Wales, (or Duke of Rothesay as he is referred to in Scotland), visited Babcock’s Rosyth Facilities and signalled for the final section to be lowered into place. The 570-tonne block – known as Sponson 11 – was the final section of the 280-metre-long warship to be manufactured. In an historic moment, HRH Duke of Rothesay gave the order for the massive section, which includes part of the flight deck, to be lowered into place by the Goliath crane. This allows the final welding to start in order to make the carrier structurally complete.

Helicopters and F-35B Joint Strike Fighter will be able to operate off the giant

Ian Booth, Managing Director of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, said: “By the end of July we will have finished welding the final section together and the ship will be structurally complete, thanks to the commitment, skills and experience of the Alliance workforce. The team will now embark on the next phase of the ship’s construction. This involves extensive outfitting, testing and commissioning of her propulsion and mission systems, as the ship is brought to life. 

Artist impression of aircraft carriers HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH and HMS PRINCE OF WALES
(Picture: BAE Systems)

The ship will then start her harbour trials here in Rosyth before setting off for sea trials in 2019.” The 570-tonne block – known as Sponson 11 – was the final section of the 280-metre-long warship to be manufactured. In an historic moment, HRH Duke of Rothesay gave the order for the massive section, which includes part of the flight deck, to be lowered into place by the Goliath crane. This allows the final welding to start in order to make the carrier structurally complete.

Ian Booth, Managing Director of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, said: “By the end of July we will have finished welding the final section together and the ship will be structurally complete, thanks to the commitment, skills and experience of the Alliance workforce. The team will now embark on the next phase of the ship’s construction. This involves extensive outfitting, testing and commissioning of her propulsion and mission systems, as the ship is brought to life. The ship will then start her harbour trials here in Rosyth before setting off for sea trials in 2019.”

SOURCE: navyrecognition.com