Construction of hull 552 at Messrs John Brown & Co. Ltd. in Clydebank was begun in the last month of 1936 on the same building berth left by her quasi-sister Queen Mary. She was 1031 feet long and 118 ft in the beam and at 83, 673 tons, was the larger of the two ships. Hull 552 early summer, 1938 Hull 552 early summer, 1938 Hull 552 before launch in 1938 The new ship attracted less attention than her more famous sister and was named, Queen Elizabeth, when launched by the new Queen on September 27, 1938. Queen Elizabeth afloat for the first time (Feilden) Anchor Line tug Paladin taking control (Feilden) Coming into the fitting-out berth (Feilden) With Paladin and Flying Eagle Fitting out ensued in John Brown’s basin but war was declared before she was completed and at the end of 1939, she was prepared to sail for New York and then Australia to complete her conversion for trooping...