![]() During sea trials, the ship hit some sort of debris with caused a propeller blade to become misaligned. The ship was supposed to have gone to sea in March 2018 but this was delayed by around 3 months, primarily because there were issues with the ship’s automated firefighting and safety systems. When everything is running fine it does not make for a great narrative so the book features these challenges in some detail. Many observes are surprised that a brand new ship does not work perfectly but, unlike consumer products such as cars that have benefited from development through multiple prototypes before going on sale, for a warship the issues have to be resolved by live trials as they emerge. Inevitably there were problems with the ship as she started the long journey into service. Kyd’s views on the need for the navy, future threats, and the role the QEC carriers will play remain especially pertinent. Most of the original cast of characters have moved on to other things including the star of the book, Captain Jerry Kyd who recently retired from the RN as a Vice Admiral. For those directly connected to the carrier project or that followed developments closely, there is now an element of nostalgia about events that have now passed into history. ![]() It’s now more than four and a half years since HMS Queen Elizabeth sailed for the first time. It is also a healthy counterbalance to the negativity of mainstream media. This can’t be faked or stage-managed and unity of purpose is one of the most powerful threads in the book. Terrill’s natural empathy and admiration for the crew reflects the enduring naval ethos of all being in the same boat and having each other’s backs. The result is not a puff piece but a credible and truthful account of an essentially happy ship that endures setbacks but overcomes comes them. The MoD has some control over access but embedding a filmmaker on board was a calculated risk that has paid off. The naval humour and in-jokes that help sustain morale through the frustrating periods is evident and there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.Ĭritics might argue that Terrill is too close to the subject to be objective and the book is effectively a tribute to people who have become his friends. The documentary and book successfully represents the 800 + ship’s company by focussing on a selected mix of personalities from a diverse cross-section of ranks, trades and backgrounds. (There are plenty of other resources covering the more technical aspects of the QEC carrier design and construction). This story is more about building the spirit of a ship than assembling steel and for this reason, this is a unique record of a massive warship generation project. In some ways, the title is misleading, although the byline gives a clue that the book might really be called “How to build a ship’s company”. A third series was shot during the CSG21 deployment last year and will be shown in future. Series two, broadcast in October 2019 covered the first deployment of the ship to the US for the first trials of the F-35 jet. Series one was broadcast on BBC2 in April 2018 and follows her journey from the shipyard to commissioning. The book accompanies the first two series of “Britains Biggest Warship” but has more depth, detail and reflection than the more tightly edited pieces for TV. He has now shot 3 documentary series on board. Terrill has probably spent more time at sea onboard QNLZ than any other civilian, becoming intimately acquainted with the ship and many of the crew. The author was onboard for her first voyage and sea trials in 2017 and the Westlant 18 deployment the following year. £20.50 (Hardback) | £12.99 (Kindle) | £8.79 (Paperback – May 2022)ĭocumentary filmmaker and anthropologist, Chris Terrill’s book, “How to Build an Aircraft Carrier” details the early years of HMS Queen Elizabeth.
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