Ship Bulding
The Building of RFA Wave Knight and RFA Wave Ruler
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An artist's impression of a Wave Class tanker at sea. A Merlin helicopter is shown landing on the flight deck- the Ol Class Tankers, which the Wave Class will replace, were sometimes used for aviation training and could operate three Sea King helicopters.
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The assembled hull of Wave Knight (left) and that of HMS Albion, a Landing Platform Dock (right).
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The aft section of Wave Knight. On July 1st 1999 this 2032 tonne section was transported from the Devonshire Dock Hall to the superberth on a 200 tonne steel supporting structure. The journey took one hour and included two stops
The bow section in isolation awaiting unification with the rest of the ship
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The aft section seen under construction from the River Clyde
The aft section and helicopter deck of Wave Ruler. The ship was assembled on what was once the main slipway of Fairfield Slipbuidiers. Photos kindly provided Stuart D Cameron.
Wave Knight leaves the 223.4 metre launchway stern first in order to maximize buoyancy on entering the water. She was the first vessel launched 'dynamically' at Barrow since HMS Manchester in 1980
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