The Royal Navy “supercarrier” HMS Queen Elizabeth is setting off for sea trials. Begun eight years ago and built at a cost of £3.6 billion, the carrier is the largest war ship ever constructed by Great Britain. After six weeks of sea trials, the ship will sail to her home port of Plymouth. The carrier’s first planes are expected to arrive next year. The HMS Queen Elizabeth is expected to be operational in 2020. A second ship of the class, HMS Prince of Wales, is currently under construction.
Old Salt Blog
a virtual port of call for all those who love the sea , hosted by nautical novelist Rick Spilman
She went under the bridges at low tide and you will note that the pole mast is lowered precisely for that reason. Even with a spring tide there was only a few feet of clearance.
See – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf1X_F0DIaw
Photos of crew quarters seem to indicate this vessel employs quite a bit of wood in crew quarter furnishings, including bunks which don’t appear to made so as to be easily jettisoned. A surprising choice for a warship and its densely packed quarters, though doubtless far more friendly to live in (and after all painted surfaces are themselves a notorious fire problem in warships, particularly as layers are added over the years).
Anyway, a nice collection of photos here showing the ship and her first crew becoming acquainted (even as she still seethes with fit and finish activity):
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2017/jun/26/inside-hms-queen-elizabeth-in-pictures