Thrust blocks and bearings completed for UK carriers

A final batch of Michell thrust blocks and lineshaft bearings were handed over recently by the Newcastle, UK facility of Rolls-Royce for installation in the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. The two blocks, each weighing more than 20 tonnes, handle the thrust from twin propellers designed to absorb a combined input power of around 80MW.

The Michell lineshaft bearings – supporting propeller shafts that run approximately one-third the length of the 290m-long ships – are among the largest manufactured by Rolls-Royce for many years. The group is also supplying its MT30 gas turbines, propellers, rudders, stabilising fins and the complete low voltage electrical systems for the carriers. MP