HONOURED: Prime Minister DIESEL POWER: praises ‘UK success story’ 160-tonne generator Page 3 lifted into place Page 7 News from the Aircraft Carrier Alliance Issue 8 Winter 2012 LB04 passes under the Forth Bridge Steady as she goes LB04 ARRIVES the block to the barge meant the The QE Class’s Lower Block 04 section was ready to begin its jour- ney ahead of schedule. However, The single biggest section of HMS arrives at Rosyth for assembly poor weather conditions in the Queen Elizabeth has been successful- north of Scotland meant the trans- ly transported from Govan to Rosyth. tened to a specialist sea going barge. and although it doesn’t get any less port date was rearranged, and the Weighing in at a massive 11,300 On arrival it was moored by the challenging, or take any less plan- block went south instead, taking it tonnes, Lower Block 04 (LB04) non-tidal basin, before the delicate ning, our teams are getting better around the coast of England. makes up around 20 per cent of operation to remove it from the each time. Floating the section off “We need to ensure the condi- the entire ship and is the final hull barge and float it into the dock the barge is technically challenging, tions are right before we set off section to make the journey to the began. but the experience we have had from on the 1,200-mile journey,” said Rosyth assembly site. Aircraft Carrier Alliance trans- each previous successful transporta- Gordon. “So we plan it very carefully At 20 metres high and 80 metres port manager Gordon Burnley said: tion goes in to making the next one and take detailed assessments of long it dwarfed other vessels as it “This was the third major section that little bit smoother.” what the conditions are going to be made its way under the bridges, fas- we have transported in this way, Fast work by the teams fixing at each stage.” CONSISTING OF 02 News from the Aircraft Carrier Alliance NEWS Contents From the Programme Director [WINTER 2012] IAN BOOTH Pages 04 and 05 How the mission systems are tested to ensure they View from the project office are ready to perform. ACHIEVEMENT Pages 06 and 07 “As these ships de- Work of the heavy velop, so does our lift team and major The last few months have been milestone for HMS both testing and rewarding for this sense of pride in Prince of Wales programme. The assembly of HMS Queen Elizabeth is ramping up and this achievement” Page 08 we have passed some significant Ian Booth, Programme Director Royal visitors see the milestones across the Aircraft ACA’s work Carrier Alliance. We’ve seen several key deliveries with the right tides. This is a hugely to the assembly site, the first Royal dynamic programme and, as we Navy crew joined HMS Queen take into new areas, we are devel- Contact Elizabeth and our missions systems oping and applying new knowledge [FOR MORE INFORMATION] are working through the crucial and lessons learned. testing phases. As these ships develop, so does These missions systems are on an our sense of pride in this remarkable To request further copies unprecedented scale, and while we and collective achievement. or to submit a story for use as much experience as we can ABOVE: Ian Booth These ships are uniquely British. the next issue, please from other programmes, we are still Thousands of people from across contact John Fyall, charting new courses in that area, will come fully into view for the first the UK are pulling together to ACA Communications just as we are in manufacturing and time and ship two – HMS Prince of make them a reality and, just like Manager, at john.fyall@ assembly. Wales – will require more and more the Olympics, they demonstrate the baesystems.com You can read about some of time and effort. very best of British skills, manufac- this work elsewhere in this issue of We have challenges that range turing and ingenuity on a global Carrier Waves is Carrier Waves. from matching a demanding build stage. available online at www. Looking ahead, 2013 is going programme with multiple yards, to I look forward to sharing more aircraftcarrieralliance. to be a crucial year. The first ship ensuring block deliveries coincide of our news with you in 2013. co.uk or contact John Fyall, ACA Communications Manager, at john.fyall@ baesystems.com F-35B heads to Florida after tests JSF © 2012 Aircraft Carrier The UK’s second F-35B Joint Strike Alliance. The publishers, Fighter has been delivered to Eglin Air authors and printers cannot accept liability for any errors Force Base, Florida. or omissions. Articles or The short take-off and vertical ABOVE: Jim Schofield opinions expressed in this landing aircraft, which will operate publication may not reflect from the Queen Elizabeth Class by USMC Maj Adam Levine. flight, a key part of the initial flight company policy. All rights carriers, was flown to the seaside An F-35B also conducted the first test programme. reserved. On no account may base by the UK’s first operational mid-air refuelling exercise recently Sqn Ldr Jim Schofield said: “It’s any part of this publication F-35 pilot, Royal Air Force Sqn Ldr with a KC-130J Hercules and the another exciting day for the United be reproduced in any form without the written Jim Schofield. It was accompanied aircraft has also proved its ability to Kingdom as we build up the F-35 force. permission of the copyright by a US Marine Corps F-35 flown re-start the propulsion system during The two UK jets will now become the holder, application for which backbone of test and evaluation at should be made to john.fyall@ Edwards Air Force Base and we will be baesystems.com Designed “It’s another exciting day for the United adding a third next year.” and produced by Connect The aircraft is the 15th short take- Communications Ltd. www. Kingdom as we build up the F-35 force” connectcommunications.co.uk Sqn Ldr Jim Schofield off and vertical landing F-35B to be manufactured to date. NEWS News from the Aircraft Carrier Alliance 03 David Cameron drops in at Rosyth to check out QE Class progress PM praises programme Prime Minister David Cameron and explained his pride in the visited Rosyth recently to see for programme. himself the work achieved on He said: “It’s a huge honour the Queen Elizabeth Class to stand in front of this incred- aircraft carriers. ible ship. I get to see some Mr Cameron met with staff pretty impressive things as Prime from Babcock, the Aircraft Car- Minister but I haven’t seen rier Alliance and the Royal Navy anything as impressive as what before taking a tour of the ship. is behind me now. After a look at the progress “This is a success story that of the build, he addressed the whole of the United King- members of the workforce dom can take great pride in.” First crew join HMS Queen Elizabeth MAKING HISTORY as many as 1,600 men and women. “My main task will be to set up the routines and procedures that will Leading Hand Claire Butler (29) allow the rest of the crew to do their made history when she became the jobs. We are all well trained and, as first member of crew to join the air- a team, will make sure this warship craft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth. becomes operational and helps to Claire was presented with the safeguard the world’s oceans.” first HMS Queen Elizabeth cap tally Ian Booth, Aircraft Carrier by Rear Admiral Steve Brunton at Alliance Programme Director, said: the head of the ships’ assembly “The fact that the Aircraft Carrier dock in Babcock’s Rosyth facility. Alliance has been joined by Royal Claire is one of eight Royal Navy crew shows just how much Navy staff selected as the first this programme has developed. Ship’s Company – crew members – Thanks to the hard work of thou- to join the ship during the sands of people all over the UK, assembly process. HMS Queen Elizabeth is now really Led by Captain Simon Petitt, ABOVE: Claire Butler joins taking shape.” the crew will work alongside the HMS Queen Elizabeth The role of the ship’s company Aircraft Carrier Alliance as is to bring the ship to life. They will HMS Queen Elizabeth – the Royal Navy – takes shape. this cap tally is a fantastic honour. ensure the Royal Navy learns how to first of two 65,000 tonne ships Claire said: “Becoming the first When she is fully operational, HMS maximise the fighting capability of under construction for the member of the Royal Navy to wear Queen Elizabeth will accommodate the ship at sea. 04 News from the Aircraft Carrier Alliance Navigation and Bridge System at New Malden HMS Collingwood man the phones It’s all systems go on QE Class MISSION SYSTEMS So what are mission systems? Ship’s mission “The temptation is to think of mission systems as a collection of top-secret kit the military use Some people call it the brains of the ship. Others systems are more for planning and executing operations,” said say it’s like the ship’s own central nervous Steve. “But, in reality, it means everything that system, or beating heart. than meet the eye helps the people on board do their jobs. That But whatever it’s called, without a top-flight includes telephone networks, communications mission system, the Queen Elizabeth Class air- suite of mission systems we can turn systems, cameras, computer networks, and craft carriers won’t be able to do their duty.