HMS Lancaster (F229)

	HMS Lancaster in the Caribbean Sea during 2013
History
United Kingdom
Name	Lancaster
Ordered	September 1986
Builder	Yarrow Shipbuilders
Laid down	18 December 1987
Launched	24 May 1990
Sponsored by	Queen Elizabeth II
Commissioned	1 May 1992
Refit	Major 2010–2012, LIFEX 2017–2019
Homeport	HMNB Portsmouth (forward deployed to HMS Jufair)
Nickname(s)	The Queen's Frigate,; The Red Rose Frigate;
Status	In active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and type	Type 23 frigate
Displacement	4,900 t (4,800 long tons)
Length	133 m (436 ft 4 in)
Beam	16.1 m (52 ft 10 in)
Draught	7.3 m (23 ft 11 in)
Propulsion	CODLAG:; Four 1,510 kW (2,020 shp) Paxman Valenta 12CM diesel generators; Two GEC electric motors delivering 2,980 kW (4,000 shp); Two Rolls-Royce Spey SM1C delivering 23,190 kW (31,100 shp);
Speed	In excess of 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph)
Range	7,500 nmi (13,900 km; 8,600 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement	185 (accommodation for up to 205)
Electronic warfare ; & decoys	UAF-1 ESM, or, UAT Mod 1; Seagnat; Type 182 towed torpedo decoy; Surface Ship Torpedo Defence;
Armament	Anti-air missiles:; 1 × 32-cell GWS 35 Vertical Launching System (VLS) for:; 32 × Sea Ceptor missiles (1–25+ km); Anti-ship missiles:; originally fit with 2 × quad Harpoon Block 1C launchers (8 × missiles) for 2022 Gulf deployment; Harpoon retired from RN service December 2023; Anti-submarine torpedoes:; 2 × twin 12.75 in (324 mm) Sting Ray torpedo tubes; Guns:; 1 × BAE 4.5-inch Mk 8 naval gun; 2 × 30 mm DS30M Mk2 guns, or, 2 × 30 mm DS30B guns; Browning heavy machine guns; 2 × Miniguns (may be retired as of 2023); 4 × General-purpose machine gun;
Aircraft carried	1 × Wildcat HMA2, armed with:; 4 × Sea Venom anti-ship missiles (projected full operating capability from 2026), or; 2 × Sting Ray anti-submarine torpedoes, or; 20 × Martlet multirole air-surface missiles (from 2021); Mk 11 depth charges; or; 1 × Westland Merlin HM2, armed with; 4 × anti submarine torpedoes; plus; 2 x Peregrine ISR UAV (from mid-2024);
Aviation facilities	Flight deck; Enclosed hangar;

HMS Lancaster is a Duke-class Type 23 frigate of the Royal Navy, launched by Queen Elizabeth II^[13] on 24 May 1990.^[14] The ship is known as "The Queen's Frigate",^[15] the Duke of Lancaster being a subsidiary title of the Sovereign. Being the third ship in the Type 23 class, Lancaster was originally allocated the pennant number F232 until it was noted that the 232 is the Royal Navy report form for groundings and collisions and therefore considered unlucky.^[16]^[17] She is one of the few ships left in the fleet with some female officers but mess decks which are men-only.^[18]

The ship, like her sisters Monmouth, Montrose, Iron Duke and Argyll, did not receive the new Sonar 2087 upgrade that other frigates of the class subsequently received. Therefore she is regarded as a "general purpose" frigate without the more specialized anti-submarine capability of the other eight ships in the Type 23 fleet.^[19]

^ "Type 23 Frigate". Royal Navy. Archived from the original on 19 January 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
^ "Royal Navy unveiled Sea Ceptor and launched first user group at DSEI 2017".
^ "Contenders for the Royal Navy's interim anti-ship missile requirement | Navy Lookout". 26 August 2021.
^ @NavyLookout (3 August 2022). "@HMSLANCASTER off the UHAF yesterday after receiving a full outfit of Harpoon missiles ahead of her eventual deployment to the Gulf" (Tweet). Retrieved 24 August 2022 – via Twitter.
^ Scott, Richard (19 December 2023). "First NSM fit on RN Type 23 frigate". Janes. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
^ "Lancaster Lays Down the Lead Testing Extra Firepower". Royal Navy. 9 February 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
^ HMS Lancaster fires.50 (12.7mm) calibre heavy machine gun. United Kingdom: YouTube. 8 February 2021. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
^ "In focus: the Fleet Solid Support ship design". Navy Lookout. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
^ "Royal Navy's Sea Venom light anti-ship missile full operating capability delayed until 2026". Navy Lookout. 21 June 2023.
^ "Peregrine rotary wing UAV to enter service with the Royal Navy". Navy Lookout. 10 February 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
^ "UK Peregrine UAS completes factory acceptance testing". Janes. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
^ @NavyLookout (25 September 2024). "@NavyLookout Recent photos showing two Peregrine RWUAS embarked on @HMSLANCASTER for trials in the Indian Ocean. Both aircraft fitted with the Thales I-Master radar with tactical data link integrated into ship's combat managment system" (Tweet). Retrieved 25 September 2024 – via Twitter.
^ "HMS Lancaster marks first Cayman visit". CaymanNetNews.com. 28 June 2013. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
^ Bellamy, Martin (2022). "Editorial". The Mariner's Mirror. 108 (4). The Society for Nautical Research: 387. doi:10.1080/00253359.2022.2117453. S2CID 253161552.
^ "Lancaster Ship's Company Return 'Home'". Royal Navy. 12 October 2011. Archived from the original on 3 April 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
^ Jane's Fighting Ships 1999-2000
^ "Type 23 Frigate: Background". Navy News. Archived from the original on 21 October 2002. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
^ "Lancaster once again echoes with life". Navy News. 14 October 2011. Archived from the original on 23 October 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
^ Allison, George (25 March 2019). "What is the purpose of the Towed Array Patrol Ship?". UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 2 May 2023.

[1] "Type 23 Frigate". Royal Navy. Archived from the original on 19 January 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2019.

[2] "Royal Navy unveiled Sea Ceptor and launched first user group at DSEI 2017".

[3] "Contenders for the Royal Navy's interim anti-ship missile requirement | Navy Lookout". 26 August 2021.

[nltweet-4] @NavyLookout (3 August 2022). "@HMSLANCASTER off the UHAF yesterday after receiving a full outfit of Harpoon missiles ahead of her eventual deployment to the Gulf" (Tweet). Retrieved 24 August 2022 – via Twitter.

[5] Scott, Richard (19 December 2023). "First NSM fit on RN Type 23 frigate". Janes. Retrieved 23 April 2024.

[6] "Lancaster Lays Down the Lead Testing Extra Firepower". Royal Navy. 9 February 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.

[7] HMS Lancaster fires.50 (12.7mm) calibre heavy machine gun. United Kingdom: YouTube. 8 February 2021. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.

[8] "In focus: the Fleet Solid Support ship design". Navy Lookout. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.

[9] "Royal Navy's Sea Venom light anti-ship missile full operating capability delayed until 2026". Navy Lookout. 21 June 2023.

[10] "Peregrine rotary wing UAV to enter service with the Royal Navy". Navy Lookout. 10 February 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2024.

[11] "UK Peregrine UAS completes factory acceptance testing". Janes. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2024.

[12] @NavyLookout (25 September 2024). "@NavyLookout Recent photos showing two Peregrine RWUAS embarked on @HMSLANCASTER for trials in the Indian Ocean. Both aircraft fitted with the Thales I-Master radar with tactical data link integrated into ship's combat managment system" (Tweet). Retrieved 25 September 2024 – via Twitter.

[13] "HMS Lancaster marks first Cayman visit". CaymanNetNews.com. 28 June 2013. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.

[MarinersMirror-14] Bellamy, Martin (2022). "Editorial". The Mariner's Mirror. 108 (4). The Society for Nautical Research: 387. doi:10.1080/00253359.2022.2117453. S2CID 253161552.

[crewreturn-15] "Lancaster Ship's Company Return 'Home'". Royal Navy. 12 October 2011. Archived from the original on 3 April 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2011.

[16] Jane's Fighting Ships 1999-2000

[17] "Type 23 Frigate: Background". Navy News. Archived from the original on 21 October 2002. Retrieved 6 March 2019.

[NNreturn-18] "Lancaster once again echoes with life". Navy News. 14 October 2011. Archived from the original on 23 October 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2011.

[19] Allison, George (25 March 2019). "What is the purpose of the Towed Array Patrol Ship?". UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 2 May 2023.

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History
HMS Lancaster in the Caribbean Sea during 2013
United Kingdom
Name	Lancaster
Ordered	September 1986
Builder	Yarrow Shipbuilders
Laid down	18 December 1987
Launched	24 May 1990
Sponsored by	Queen Elizabeth II
Commissioned	1 May 1992
Refit	Major 2010–2012, LIFEX 2017–2019
Homeport	HMNB Portsmouth (forward deployed to HMS Jufair)
Nickname(s)	The Queen's Frigate, The Red Rose Frigate
Status	In active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and type	Type 23 frigate
Displacement	4,900 t (4,800 long tons)^[1]
Length	133 m (436 ft 4 in)
Beam	16.1 m (52 ft 10 in)
Draught	7.3 m (23 ft 11 in)
Propulsion	CODLAG: Four 1,510 kW (2,020 shp) Paxman Valenta 12CM diesel generators Two GEC electric motors delivering 2,980 kW (4,000 shp) Two Rolls-Royce Spey SM1C delivering 23,190 kW (31,100 shp)
Speed	In excess of 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph)
Range	7,500 nmi (13,900 km; 8,600 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement	185 (accommodation for up to 205)
Electronic warfare & decoys	UAF-1 ESM, or, UAT Mod 1 Seagnat Type 182 towed torpedo decoy Surface Ship Torpedo Defence
Armament	Anti-air missiles: 1 × 32-cell GWS 35 Vertical Launching System (VLS) for: 32 × Sea Ceptor missiles (1–25+ km)^[2] Anti-ship missiles: originally fit with 2 × quad Harpoon Block 1C launchers (8 × missiles) for 2022 Gulf deployment;^[3]^[4] Harpoon retired from RN service December 2023^[5] Anti-submarine torpedoes: 2 × twin 12.75 in (324 mm) Sting Ray torpedo tubes Guns: 1 × BAE 4.5-inch Mk 8 naval gun 2 × 30 mm DS30M Mk2 guns, or, 2 × 30 mm DS30B guns Browning heavy machine guns^[6]^[7] 2 × Miniguns (may be retired as of 2023)^[8] 4 × General-purpose machine gun
Aircraft carried	1 × Wildcat HMA2, armed with: 4 × Sea Venom anti-ship missiles (projected full operating capability from 2026),^[9] or 2 × Sting Ray anti-submarine torpedoes, or 20 × Martlet multirole air-surface missiles (from 2021) Mk 11 depth charges or 1 × Westland Merlin HM2, armed with 4 × anti submarine torpedoes plus 2 x Peregrine ISR UAV (from mid-2024)^[10]^[11]^[12]
Aviation facilities	Flight deck Enclosed hangar