QE2 launch

[Lynda Bradford]

Today 20 September 2014 is the 47th anniversary of the QE2, a ship loved and remembered.  Why not take some time today to have a look at the launch photos and videos and enjoy the moment

Videos
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/board,68.0.html

Photos
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/board,108.0.html

At precisely 1428 hours on a sunny afternoon Her Majesty stepped forward on the launching platform and said:

“I name this ship Queen Elizabeth the Second. May God Bless her. May God Bless her and all who sail in her.”

[Adam Hodson]

Today 20 September 2014 is the 47th anniversary of the QE2, a ship loved and remembered.  Why not take some time today to have a look at the launch photos and videos and enjoy the moment

Videos
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/board,68.0.html

Photos
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/board,108.0.html

Happy 47th Birthday to her!

[Twynkle]

NOTE THAT THE CONTENT OF THIS POSTING (AND ALL POSTINGS ON THIS DISCUSSION FORUM) IS COPYRIGHT © THEQE2STORY.COM AND THE POSTER, AND NOT TO BE USED ELSEWHERE - EXCEPT BY MEANS OF A HYPERLINK TO THIS POSTING - EXCEPT BY REQUEST.

The intricate launching calculations had been worked out by a computer – a week’s work reduced to 30 minutes compared with the normal methods with the slightest error having to be eliminated. Many factors had to be considered for the river was narrow and the ship was long.

The problems of a launch of this size were enormous. Very early on in the proceedings, John Browns had to decide the width and slope of the slipway on which the liner would slide down to the water. The effects of temperature on the launch lubricant grease mixture had to be considered and a host of other factors had all to be checked, evaluated and re-checked.

John Starks, assistant managing director heading John Brown’s design team:

“The first step is, obviously, to make sure that it will move. When it starts to move the first things that starts to happen is that the stern begins to lift. As it does so pressure on the forward end of the slipway is increased very considerably as it is taking the whole weight of the ship, apart from any buoyancy that the water is taking. One must, therefore, make sure that the ship is then strong enough to take the stress at the forward end.
.....
.....In the river six tugs would be waiting to handle the ship – three at the fore and three at the aft. Another will be standing by for any emergency. Lines would be rocketed from the tugs to the new Cunarder and towing lines would be secured and the new ship would move towards her fitting-out berth.

This description in its entirety is so good - and leads to questions regarding the hull, and who might have been inside (and where etc)  as well as who else was on board - apart from those on the foredeck. I wonder who did the steering, and where was this done from - or was the manouvering all done by the tugs? - was the / an ECR in operation..etc?  I guess there's possibly enough data and description for a book, need to dig out Potter and Frost again! It was probably the only time that QE2 wanted to blast her whistle and didn't have the means!

[Michael Gallagher]

Difficult to believe it was seven years ago today we were in Greenock celebrating the Birthday Girl and then seven years tomorrow we were in Liverpool holding the first Cathedral Concert in her honour.

[Peter Mugridge]

Yesterday, of course, I was returning home from my charity challenge and as the train from Fort William to Glasgow Queen Street leaves the West Highland Line at Craigendoran Junction passengers enjoy a fine view over the whole Clyde during the descent from Garelochead via Helensburgh Upper.

Unfortunately I was on the wrong side of the train to be able to photograph the view; the weather was perfect for the occasion as well!

[Clydebuilt1971]

This description in its entirety is so good - and leads to questions regarding the hull, and who might have been inside (and where etc)  as well as who else was on board - apart from those on the foredeck. I wonder who did the steering, and where was this done from - or was the manouvering all done by the tugs? - was the / an ECR in operation..etc?  I guess there's possibly enough data and description for a book, need to dig out Potter and Frost again! It was probably the only time that QE2 wanted to blast her whistle and didn't have the means!

Rosie, I would imagine it would be purely down to the drag chains keeping her as straight as possible whilst entering the water and then the tugs to get lines on ASAP before she drifted too far. Other than her rudder etc being installed the ship herself would have had no active steering gear at the time of launch.
The drag chains are critical until the ship is fully afloat as they prevent the ship coming off the slip too fast and also serve to keep her in a reasonably straight line at the same time. At the launch of RFA Mounts Bay at Govan a few years back the ship became tangled up in the chains and weights as she made her way down the slip into the Clyde - this caused her to deviate off the chosen line and also meant that she didnt have the "braking" force required to slow her so she kissed the quayside on the other side of the river.
http://www.clydesite.co.uk/articles/bad_launches.asp

Personally I would love to talk to engineers who made the calculations for dynamic launches such as these - what they took into account etc etc. The engineer above makes mention of stresses on the forward end as the after end begins to float - I see why flooding a drydock is preferential these days if not as dramatic!!



Sorry to ramble!

Gav

[Clydebuilt1971]

Difficult to believe it was seven years ago today we were in Greenock celebrating the Birthday Girl and then seven years tomorrow we were in Liverpool holding the first Cathedral Concert in her honour.

A nice bow shot of her 20/09/2007 taken from mv Balmoral as we escorted the old girl down river.

Gav

[June Ingram]

Gav, absolutely beautiful photo of our girl !

[pete cain]

Regarding Rosies reply#17 above, I can only quote my 1 and only experience of being on board a dynamic launch, in this case HMS Sheffield (lost in the Atlantic- Falklands debacle). An awful lot of the stresses transferred from the rear end of the vessel  as it starts to float, are taken by the forward launch cradle, it is packed with lots & lots of soft wood which is designed to crush in a specific way, thus controlling the take up of buoyancy.
  The chains as mentioned, check the speed of entry ( & maybe even turn the vessel slightly to allow for tidal flow). All very stressful , & meticulously worked out by the boffins. We had a generator running (don't know why possibly for pumping but conjecture there folks). There were bodies all over the place down below sounding her, my task was to tighten or repack hull glands  as & when called upon, as it happens I got a free (white knuckle) ride ,cos once she's released & on her way gravity is in charge.
  The type 42 Destroyers were miniscule in comparison to QE2, however Oriana was not , the theory I guess is one of proportion

[June Ingram]

Thank you very much, Pete, for your first hand account.  June   

[Clydebuilt1971]

I'll second that June - always good to get first hand accounts from those who have experienced it!!

Gav

[Rob Lightbody]

Found this today, the length of the programme shows how important it was.

Radio Times programme guide
http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbcone/london/1967-09-20

[June Ingram]

Thanks very much, Rob, for the link to the programme guide.  Do you know if there is an archive which has the broadcast in entirety ?  Would University of Glasgow have that  ?

June   

[jdl]

Some more fantastic insights into the launch and all the behind the scenes work that went into the birth of a lady.

I also know from a friend from Glasgow that all the local schools were given the day off in celebration

[Lynda Bradford]

Some more fantastic insights into the launch and all the behind the scenes work that went into the birth of a lady.

I also know from a friend from Glasgow that all the local schools were given the day off in celebration

It was a big occasion in Clydebank and the surrounding area and yes the school children were given time off school and were happy to wave flags to welcome the Queen to the town.