Britain launches its largest warship - HMS Queen Elizabeth

[dunkace]

[QUOTE]The Queen has arrived to give her name to the largest warship built in the UK at a ceremony in Fife's Rosyth dockyard.
She will smash a bottle of whisky on the hull of the 65,000-tonne HMS Queen Elizabeth - the first of two new Royal Navy aircraft carriers being built.

She is with the Duke of Edinburgh at the naming ceremony, a naval tradition dating back thousands of years.
PM David Cameron said it was a "very proud day" for Scotland and the UK.

First Minister Alex Salmond, former prime minister Gordon Brown and Chancellor George Osborne are also attending.
Six shipyards in the UK including Tyne, Rosyth and Appledore have been involved in building parts of the carrier.

More than 10,000 people in more than 100 companies have worked on HMS Queen Elizabeth, which has been beset by construction and design delays.
The estimated cost of the vessel and its sister ship is £6.2bn, well over the initial projected cost of £3.65bn.

The warship - the largest ever built in and for the UK - is as long as 25 buses and can carry 40 jets and helicopters at a time. It will have a permanent crew of almost 1,600 when it enters service in 2020.[/QUOTE]

[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28146412[/url]

[IMG]http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/76022000/jpg/_76022886_qe_class_aircraft_carrier_624.jpg[/IMG]

[url]http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/75317000/jpg/_75317770_rosyth.jpg[/url]

[Cabbage]

Something about the imagery of The Queen bottling a massive ship is quite funny :v:

[kahgarak]

She's a beaut.

[chedobson]

While America celebrates indepedence day, we slowly plot... Just need to find some planes to put on it

We even have their declaration of independence at the moment don't let Alex Jones hear about this!

[Trumple]

[QUOTE=chedobson;45289897]While America celebrates indepedence day, we slowly plot... Just need to find some planes to put on it[/QUOTE]

I hear the F-35 would be a suitable, reliable candidate

[ChestyMcGee]

and still smaller than a nimitz. those things are ridiculous

[myon]

That's one big queen

[shakadamus]

I'm looking forward to seeing her Sail in Portsmouth Harbour. They had to dredge it so the bloody thing wouldn't beach coming in.

[Angus725]

[QUOTE=shakadamus;45290021]I'm looking forward to seeing her Sail in Portsmouth Harbour. They had to dredge it so the bloody thing wouldn't beach coming in.[/QUOTE]

Can't miss the tradition of getting the newest, best ship in the navy getting a photoshoot with the HMS Victory.

[Sphinxa279]

Tea and crumpets for all! Gawd save the Queen.

[Vasili]

Apparently a load of people boo'd Alex Salmond there.

[Sableye]

why did they put two con towers?

[editline]4th July 2014[/editline]

[quote]The naming ceremony was performed with a bottle of whisky rather than the more traditional champagne.[/quote]

missed your chance there england, coulda used some scotch

[Terminutter]

[QUOTE=Sableye;45290084]why did they put two con towers?
[/QUOTE]

Fore is for the bridge, navigation and ship control stuff, aft is flight control. Don't know why they split it, but I imagine they had a good reason for the design.

Or a terrible reason, considering the F35s :v:

[shakadamus]

[QUOTE=Angus725;45290038]Can't miss the tradition of getting the newest, best ship in the navy getting a photoshoot with the HMS Victory.[/QUOTE]

That wont be hard, you'll probably be able to see the ship from nearly any point in the dockyard. I think the bridge is the same height, if not taller than Semaphore Tower.

Edit:

Some more photo's if anyone's interested:

[IMG]https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/t1.0-9/q73/s720x720/10525844_10152538354663205_8567824593631334791_n.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/t1.0-9/q71/s720x720/10346282_10152538354833205_7612943158585840971_n.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/l/t1.0-9/q71/s720x720/10394630_10152539330083205_3956626185100439012_n.jpg[/IMG]

[Scot]

[QUOTE=Vasili;45290078]Apparently a load of people boo'd Alex Salmond there.[/QUOTE]

for what purpose

[angelangel]

her maj christening it

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2AHv0H50SY[/media]

[editline]4th July 2014[/editline]

CGI tour;

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN-j7aRZ4S4[/media]

[editline]4th July 2014[/editline]

I think the one question everyone has on their minds is...

will the laundry still be done by Hong Kong laundrymen????

[lektro]

brittannia rule the waves

[Docc]

[QUOTE=Sableye;45290084]why did they put two con towers?

[editline]4th July 2014[/editline]

missed your chance there england, coulda used some scotch[/QUOTE]

Since it's conventionally powered it has to have the space for the smoke stacks. So rather than having one long control tower like most conventional carriers they separated flight operations and the main bridge so they're in better positions for their respective tasks.

It'll also help with flight deck stability apparently. Here she is next to the old Invincible class carrier HMS Illustrious, quite a difference.

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/1fSc4hk.jpg[/IMG]

[Halite]

Why did they shelf the harriers, they are kick ass. :(!

[Corn]

[QUOTE=shadowboy303;45290662]Why did they shelf the harriers, they are kick ass. :(![/QUOTE]

Blame the F-35

[Pvt. Martin]

Hrmm....Britan getting the Declaration of Independence? A new giant Aircraft Carrier? Bees?

MY GOD! THEY'RE PLANNING TO RETAKE THE COLONIES, ON THE 4TH TOO! RUN!

[sp]/joke[/sp]

[Zambies!]

[QUOTE=Akuma_lektro;45290300]brittannia rule the waves[/QUOTE]

[quote][img]http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/528282d2ecad0463559f9e8d-850-1076/carriers-2013.gif[/img][/quote]

:smug:

*crying eagle*

[Joazzz]

brazil has an aircraft carrier???

[Vasili]

[QUOTE=Scot;45290119]for what purpose[/QUOTE]

It was on the radio as they were at the ceremony, Alex Salmond appeared on screen and a load of people boo'd him.

[Bat-shit]

[QUOTE=Zambies!;45291009]:smug:

*crying eagle*[/QUOTE]

Wow, no wonder about your national debt.

[editline]4th July 2014[/editline]

But regardless pretty impressive fleet.

[Trumple]

[QUOTE=Zambies!;45291009]:smug:

*crying eagle*[/QUOTE]

Wow, I'm genuinely impressed
And glad that the USA are our allies

[The mouse]

[QUOTE=Zambies!;45291009]:smug:

*crying eagle*[/QUOTE]

and people say that the US is no longer a superpower :v:

[Trumple]

[QUOTE=The mouse;45291556]and people say that the US is no longer a superpower :v:[/QUOTE]

[url]http://www.globalfirepower.com/country-military-strength-detail.asp?country_id=united-states-of-america[/url]

[RayvenQ]

[QUOTE=Cabbage;45289863]Something about the imagery of The Queen bottling a massive ship is quite funny :v:[/QUOTE]

I can imagine the queen going "U WOT M8" and just glassing the ship.

[Sector 7]

[QUOTE=Trumple;45291567][url]http://www.globalfirepower.com/country-military-strength-detail.asp?country_id=united-states-of-america[/url][/QUOTE]

...This site doesn't even mention nuclear arsenals? Or bombing tonnage?