Bae Systems, global defense, aerospace and security company, has announced on its official twitter account that Lower block 04 of the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier has departed Clyde.
“And she’s off….Lower Block 04 leaves the Clyde to embark on her delivery voyage to Rosyth ”, Bae Systems wrote.
All preparations for the departure of 11,300 tonnes of aircraft carrier from Govan Yard, UK had been completed one day earlier.
The Queen Elizabeth-class (formerly the CV Future or CVF project) is a class of two aircraft carriers being built for the Royal Navy.
HMS Queen Elizabeth is expected to enter service in 2016 and HMS Prince of Wales in 2018.
The contracts for the vessels were signed on 3 July 2008. The construction cost was initially estimated to be £3.9 billion.
The vessels will displace about 65,000 tonnes (64,000 long tons), be 280 meters (920 ft) long and have a tailored air group of up to forty aircraft. They will be the largest warships ever to be constructed for the Royal Navy.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff,November 5, 2012; Image: BAE Systems