QE2 Quarter Deck Loading Area

[Andrew Collier]

Hi Everybody,

Anyone got photo's showing the details on the loading deck, just aft of the foc'stle on the quarter deck as the ship was when new?

The two large cranes show up well in a lot of general photo's but the hatch, and other fittings do not.

I have lots of photos of it in recent times, but its the original details that seem a little eluisve!

All links and pointers appreciated....

Cheers  

[Bob C.]

Here's a few including two taken from the Upper Deck inside and outside of the Lookout Bar.  You can find bigger versions of these on my Flickr page.  Sorry I don't have any of the specifically of the hatch and cranes.

[Rob Lightbody]

Thats SO awesome, the view from the lookout bar, thanks Bob!

[Andrew Collier]

Thanks both of you, these are exactly the type of images I need, am already a big fan of your flickr page Bob, but nice to have those relevent photos linked here for all to see :-D

I was unaware the deck was as brown as it was until I first saw your flickr, I always thought it darker and greyer than this, it just shows how lighting condition can aler with what you see in a photo, these close ups eliminate much of that so are more likely to be spot on!

I like this brown, shown in Louis's photo too, adds a bit of colour in a subtle way!

There are two littel cranes, at the forward end of this bit of deck, one each side, very small, am keen to find a pic of those if theres one to be found, I think they were replaced as the more recent fotos I have show them clearly, but they do not look like the originals....

[Andrew Collier]

As for the lookout bar, I love the way that little balcony in front of it was planked in teak! (visible in the full size image on Bob's flickr page) Makes it even odder the sports deck observation deck below the bridge wasnt planked, I so want to know why that was!

I think the planks of the balcony must have been removed in the '72 refit when the kitchen was added and passengers no more on it?

[Louis De Sousa]

There are two littel cranes, at the forward end of this bit of deck, one each side, very small, am keen to find a pic of those if theres one to be found, I think they were replaced as the more recent fotos I have show them clearly, but they do not look like the originals....

Andy they are not cranes they are the liferafts davits

[Louis De Sousa]

Heres two photos were you the can see the davits ,one in "put away position" ( davit arm down ) and the other "ready to launch position" ( davit arm up )

https://www.flickr.com/photos/chriscunard/4097923160/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/chriscunard/4052767276/

[Peter Mugridge]

I take it the six white drum like things are the stowed life rafts?

[Andrew Collier]

Thanks Louis, I was suspicious of that, but couldnt workout where the liferafts were.

I have just noticed that the lockers either side of the hatch say 'liferafts' on them, so as built the rafts had little lockers, never heard of anything like that before!

They must have given up on the lockers at some stage when expanding the number of rafts....

What a day of discovery :-)

[Andrew Collier]

Louis, In those photos, do you think they are the original davits, they are recent photos and I dont know if the davits were ever changed?

Im going to have to go get some early pictures out to compare....

Yes Peter, the drums you can see are the rafts, in their more recent uncovered location, look at the pic Louis posted and see the long low white 'cabinets' either side of the hatch which had the rafts in previously, this is good, cheers guys!

[Louis De Sousa]

I take it the six white drum like things are the stowed life rafts?

There are 7 liferafts on each side 14 in total.

[Peter Mugridge]

OK, so as there are six drum shapes in that picture and the davit is out, I imagine the 7th has just been test launched and is in the water?

[Louis De Sousa]

I have just noticed that the lockers either side of the hatch say 'liferafts' on them, so as built the rafts had little lockers, never heard of anything like that before!

Yes the liferafts were kept in those cabinets, then i think in 1992 those cabinets were removed.Reason for this is that the liferafts have now what is called a Hydrostatic Realease Mechanism.This device will enable a liferaft to be released from andto float off a ship and inflate automatically shouldthe ship sink in such a rapid manner that the crew were to have no time to manually launch them.When the ship has sank in a depth of 4 meters below sea level the HRM will activate.This will cause the securing strap on the canister to be released .This thinner weaker line is called "weak line".

[Louis De Sousa]

OK, so as there are six drum shapes in that picture and the davit is out, I imagine the 7th has just been test launched and is in the water?

Here you can see 7 Peter

https://www.flickr.com/search/?q=qe2+bow&s=int&page=5

[Louis De Sousa]

I think i even recall there been 8.

[Louis De Sousa]

Heres one with the hatch open.

https://www.flickr.com/search/?q=qe2+bow&s=int&page=5

[Louis De Sousa]

Another for you Andy

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nickherber/2980509580/in/set-1587405/

Louis

[foreshore]

Yes the liferafts were kept in those cabinets, then i think in 1992 those cabinets were removed.Reason for this is that the liferafts have now what is called a Hydrostatic Realease Mechanism.This device will enable a liferaft to be released from andto float off a ship and inflate automatically shouldthe ship sink in such a rapid manner that the crew were to have no time to manually launch them.When the ship has sank in a depth of 4 meters below sea level the HRM will activate.This will cause the securing strap on the canister to be released .This thinner weaker line is called "weak line".

It does seem a little odd nowadays to think liferafts were originally stored in neat lockers, but I guess they didn't have the same mechanism they do now - more of a manual exercise!

As you say Louis, the liferafts do their own thing with the HR automation once they go underwater. The line you mention was referred to as the Painter line in my P&O days? Once the liferaft was physically separated from blocks, the painter line would remain attached to the shiip until fully extended and would then pull/set off the inflation.Mainly to prevent the liferaft immediately inflating & getting stuck or caught up on superstructure etc (a similarly positioned liferaft on Canberra was ripped off during a storm we were in & the painter line released it into the main mast & bent it!)

[Louis De Sousa]

One more from the 70`s



Louis

[Louis De Sousa]

As you say Louis, the liferafts do their own thing with the HR automation once they go underwater. The line you mention was referred to as the Painter line in my P&O days?

 Foreshore, The HRM consists of a double looped white rope line, a release mechanism and a Red Weak Link breaking strength.

The strong white rope is secured to the deck or liferaft cradle and attached to the liferaft lashing with a sliphook. If the ship sinks, the water pressure will (within 4 metres) activate the sharp knife which cuts the white rope and the liferaft will float free. As the ship sinks, the liferaft painter line will be stretched and the liferaft starts to inflate. The Red Weak Link breaks and survivors can board the floating liferaft.