Construction
The construction of the Q4 was put out to tender which was won by John Brown and Company, later to be incorporated into the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders. Designated year number 736, the keel of the new vessel was laid on 5 July 1965. The John Brown shipyard had built her predecessors, the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth. On 20 September 1967 the Q4 was launched by Her Majesty Queen Eliabeth II. The vessel was christened Queen Elizabeth 2. Following her launch the new ship was fitted out with her boilers and steam turbines and the passenger accomodation installed, which was completed by 19 November 1968. Externally her white and black funnel was a marked departure from Cunard's traditional colours.
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Configuration
| Parameter | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Construction | Steel hull with aluminium upperworks |
| Engines | Nine MAN B&W 9L 58/64 four-stroke Diesel engines, maximum of 10,625 kW at 400 rpm |
| Boilers | Nine exhaust gas Sunrod boilers in combination with two oil-fired Sunrod boilers |
| Propulsion | Two GEC 44 Holland MW Motors, maximum of 44 MW each at 144 rpm |
| Propellers | Two 19 ft 8 in/6.1m diameter Lips Holland five-bladed variable pitch propellers |
| Speed | Service: 28.5 knots (32.7mph/52.7kph). Maximum: 32 knots (36.8mph/59.2kph) |
| Bow thrusters | Two Stone KaMeWa bow thrusters producing 1,000hp each |
| Stabilisers | Four (two pairs) of Denny Brown Rom electro-hydraulic stabilisers |
Statistics
| Parameter | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Passenger capacity | 1,777 passengers |
| Crew capacity | 1,016 crew |
| Passenger decks | 12 (one additional crew-only deck) |
| Whisles | Three Tyfon Whistles, audible for up to two miles |
| Life-saving | 20 lifeboats (2,244 persons), 56 liferafts (1,400) persons, five buoyancy devices (100 persons) |
| Compasses | Two Sperry Mk.37 Gyro Compasses, Compass. Lilley and Gillie Magnetic |
| Accomodation | 950 cabins. Outside: singles 37, doubles 634. Inside: singles: 81, doubles: 198 |
| Range | 7,800 miles at maximum speed (ten days sailing) |
Timeline
- 1965
5 Jul 1965 - keel laid at the John Brown shipyard on Clydebank. - 1967
20 Sep 1967 - the hull of the QE2 is launched by HM Queen. - 1968
19 Nov 1968 - QE2 leaves shipyard to commence sea trials. - 1968
17 Dec 1968 - Second set of trials after oil contamination in steam feed. - 1968
23 Dec 1968 - QE2 commences main sea trials off the Scottish coast. - 1969
2 Jan 1969 - QE2 limps into Southampton after major engine problems. - 1969
17 Jan 1969 - Date of the original maiden voyage, subsequently cancelled . - 1969
18 Mar 1969 - Official handover over the QE2 from builders to Cunard. - 1969
24 Mar 1969 - QE2 commences a series of sea trials off the south coast. - 1969
30 Mar 1969 - Shake-down voyage following repairs after engine problems. - 1969
22 Apr 1969 - Proving voyage to Las Palmas before commercial service.
In numbers
- 1,080
Each of the two 12½ forward anchor is attached to a cable masuring 1,080 ft in length - 70,327
The QE2 has a gross tonnage of 70,327 grt and a net tonnage of 37,182 nt - 4
The QE2 has four - two pairs - of Denny Brown Rom electro-hydraulic stabilisers to improve stability - 32 ½
The QE2's maximum speed was 32½ knots and she can achieve 19 knots full astern - 49 ½
The QE2 travels 49½ gallons of fuel for each gallon of fuel consumed and consumes 18 tonnes per hour - 2
The QE2 has two Stone KaMeWa bow thrusters each producing 1,000hp to assist manoeuverability - 36
The QE2's final voyage to Dubai was sold out in 36 minutes from going on sale - 29,091,000
The final price paid to John Brown for the QE2 by Cunard was £29,091,000 - 500
The QE2's Upper Deck Theatre has stalls and balcony seating for 500 people - 3.39
The QE2 takes 3 minutes 39 seconds from sailing at full speed to stationary, travelling 0.8 miles - 1,777
The QE2 can carry up to 1,777 passengers, accomodated in 950 cabins across 8 decks - 13
The QE2 has 13 deck in total - twelve for passengers and one deck for crew members only - 69,818,400
The QE2 cost $69,818,400 to build, with $675 million spent on subsequent refits - 160,000
The QE2's original engine configuration produced 160,000 shaft horsepower - 120
Each of the QE2's MAN B&W 9L 58/64 four-stroke Diesel engines weighs an astonishing 120 tons - 433
The QE2 consumes 433 tonnes of diesel oil per day during scheduled passenger service - 1
The QE2 has one funnel, measuring 69 ft/21 m in height, and painted in Cunard's traditional colours - 8
The QE2 has eight passenger stairways identified by letters A to H and thirteen passenger lifts - 73,000
Passengers aboard the QE2 consume in excess of 73,000 bottle of champagne each year - 1,002
The QE2 has 1,002 staterooms - 677 staterooms with sea-views and 325 inside staterooms - 7
The QE2 has seven restaurants aboard from the exclusive Queen Grill to the Pavilion Restaurant - 963
The QE2 iss 963 ft long, the Queen Mary and Elizabeth measured 1,031 and 1,118 ft - 20,000
In 1969 the 20,000 sq ft Double Room aboard the QE2 was the largest room afloat - 10
The QE2 has ten bars from the exclusive Queens Grill Lounge to the Sun Deck Funnel Bar - 3
The QE2 has three Tyfon Whistles fitted to her mast, which are audible for a distance of up to two miles - 262 ½
The QE2's two mammoth propeller shafts measure 262ft 6 inches in length - 2,932
On a typical transatlantic crossing the QE2's restaurants use 2,932 table cloths - 1,184
The QE2's two most luxurious Q1-grade Grand Suites each have 1,184 sq ft of floorspace - 278
Each of The QE2's original Foster-Wheeler ESD 11 boilers weighed 278 tons - 20
The QE2 carries lifeboats with a maximum capacity for 2,244 passengers and crew - 4,381
The QE2's fuel tanks can hold 4,381 tons of oil, enough for 10 days sailing at maximum speed
