Construction
Construction
The planned successor to the Cunard Queen Mary (1936) and Queen Elizabeth (1940), the Q3, was seen as a direct replacement, a vessel of 75,000 gross tons. Following declining passenger numbers on the North Atlantic, the operational requirements were revised. A new vessel, designated the Q4, was developed. 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.
Photographs
Southampton final afternoon
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Configuration
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
Timeline
- 1965
5 Jul - The keel of Cunard's new flagship is laid at the John Brown Clydeside shipyard in Scotland. - 1967
20 Sep - The QE2 is launched at 2:28pm by Her Majesty the Queen at the John Brown shipyard. - 1968
19 Nov - The QE2 leaves the John Brown shipyard for the first time to commence her sea trials. - 1968
17 Dec - The QE2 begins her second set of sea trials after her steam feed suffered oil contamination. - 1968
23 Dec - The QE2 commences her main sea trials off the Scottish coast to test her sea-worthiness. - 1969
2 Jan - The QE2 limps into the port of Southampton after major problems with her turbine engines. - 1969
17 Jan - The QE2 has her maiden voyage postponed by Cunard due to continued teething troubles. - 1969
18 Mar - Official handover, at 1:15pm in London and Southampton, of the QE2 from her builders to Cunard. - 1969
24 Mar - The QE2 begins a series of sea trials off the south coast prior to her maiden voyage. - 1969
30 Mar - The QE2 begins a mini shake-down voyage following repairs after problems with her turbines. - 1969
18 Apr - The QE2 is formally accepted by the Cunad Line from the John Brown shipyard on the Clyde. - 1969
22 Apr - The QE2 commences a proving voyage to Las Palmas before commercial service. - 1987
20 Feb - The QE2's enlarged funnel is reinstalled during her conversion from steam to diesel propulsion.
Whistles
In numbers
In numbers
- 13 The QE2 has 13 deck in total - twelve for passengers and one deck for crew members only
- 1,777 The QE2 can carry up to 1,777 passengers, accomodated in 950 cabins across 8 decks
- 433 The QE2 consumes 433 tonnes of diesel oil per day during scheduled passenger service
- 2,932 On a typical transatlantic crossing the QE2's restaurants use 2,932 table cloths
- 49 ½ The QE2 travels 49½ gallons of fuel for each gallon of fuel consumed and consumes 18 tonnes per hour
- 69,818,400 The QE2 cost $69,818,400 to build, with $675 million spent on subsequent refits
- 1,080 Each of the two 12½ forward anchor is attached to a cable masuring 1,080 ft in length
- 4,381 The QE2's fuel tanks can hold 4,381 tons of oil, enough for 10 days sailing at maximum speed
- 10 The QE2 has ten bars from the exclusive Queens Grill Lounge to the Sun Deck Funnel Bar
- 32 ½ The QE2's maximum speed was 32½ knots and she can achieve 19 knots full astern
- 20,000 In 1969 the 20,000 sq ft Double Room aboard the QE2 was the largest room afloat
- 3 The QE2 has three Tyfon Whistles fitted to her mast, which are audible for a distance of up to two miles
- 1,002 The QE2 has 1,002 staterooms - 677 staterooms with sea-views and 325 inside staterooms
- 20 The QE2 carries lifeboats with a maximum capacity for 2,244 passengers and crew
- 262 ½ The QE2's two mammoth propeller shafts measure 262ft 6 inches in length
- 120 Each of the QE2's MAN B&W 9L 58/64 four-stroke Diesel engines weighs an astonishing 120 tons
- 2 The QE2 has two Stone KaMeWa bow thrusters each producing 1,000hp to assist manoeuverability
- 7 The QE2 has seven restaurants aboard from the exclusive Queen Grill to the Pavilion Restaurant
- 36 The QE2's final voyage to Dubai was sold out in 36 minutes from going on sale
- 70,327 The QE2 has a gross tonnage of 70,327 grt and a net tonnage of 37,182 nt
- 500 The QE2's Upper Deck Theatre has stalls and balcony seating for 500 people
- 1 The QE2 has one funnel, measuring 69 ft/21 m in height, and painted in Cunard's traditional colours
- 963 The QE2 iss 963 ft long, the Queen Mary and Elizabeth measured 1,031 and 1,118 ft
- 3.39 The QE2 takes 3 minutes 39 seconds from sailing at full speed to stationary, travelling 0.8 miles
- 4 The QE2 has four - two pairs - of Denny Brown Rom electro-hydraulic stabilisers to improve stability
- 29,091,000 The final price paid, in 1969 prices, to John Brown for the QE2 by Cunard was £29,091,000
- 160,000 The QE2's original engine configuration produced 160,000 shaft horsepower
- 278 Each of The QE2's original Foster-Wheeler ESD 11 boilers weighed 278 tons
- 73,000 Passengers aboard the QE2 consume in excess of 73,000 bottle of champagne each year
- 8 The QE2 has eight passenger stairways identified by letters A to H and thirteen passenger lifts
- 1,184 The QE2's two most luxurious Q1-grade Grand Suites each have 1,184 sq ft of floorspace
