MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Atlantic Patrol Tasking HMS Lancaster in Gibraltar
Sailing around the Cape Hope and back across the Atlantic HMS Lancaster called at the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Tristan de Cunha 
HMS Lancaster is the first ship to deploy with the Royal Navy’s newest helicopter, the Wildcat. HMS Lancaster, a type 23 Frigate is in Gibraltar for a few days to top up on fuel and supplies and allow its crew some rest and recuperation. HMS Lancaster recently completed a 9-month deployment to the South Atlantic where she conducted Atlantic Patrol Tasking, and made over 23 port visits in 18 countries.
A Presentation of Awards ceremony was held on board, with a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, Naval Base Commander’s Commendation and five Efficiency Awards handed out to a number of crew members.
HMS Lancaster is the first ship to deploy with the Royal Navy’s newest helicopter, the Wildcat. Like its predecessor, the Lynx, the Wildcat can be used in a variety of roles including anti-ship and anti-submarine protection, casualty evacuation, battlefield reconnaissance and as a general utility helicopter.
The nine month deployment saw HMS Lancaster cross the North Atlantic across to America, through the Caribbean, stopping in Bermuda and then advanced to New Orleans where the crew joined in the notorious Fleet Week celebrations.
From there HMS Lancaster went through the Panama Canal and down the west coast of South America taking in Columbia and Chile, sailing around the Cape Hope and back across the Atlantic stopping off at the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Tristan de Cunha, before reaching South Africa.
Leaving South Africa HMS Lancaster travelled up the west coast of Africa calling at Angola, Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Sierra Leone, Cape Verde Islands before crossing into Algeria and finally towards the Rock.
When HMS Lancaster arrives back in the UK it will first dock in Plymouth where family members will join the ship’s company onboard and to the final destination of Portsmouth.
She will then go into what is known as reduced readiness for the next year to 18 months she will be in maintenance and will come out of that fully by the end of 2017, complete with new equipment she will be ready to take to the seas once again.
Top Comments
Disclaimer & comment rules-
-
-
Read all commentsAwesome. One voyage!
Dec 16th, 2015 - 08:30 am 0I think only the USA has this kind of 'reach' . I am sure China does not, nor Russia.
-----
”The nine month deployment saw HMS Lancaster cross the North Atlantic .. to the [USA], through the Caribbean, stopping in Bermuda and then advanced to New Orleans ...
From there HMS Lancaster went through the Panama Canal and down the west coast of South America taking in Columbia and Chile, sailing around the Cape Hope, [then experienced some distraction, whilst trying to maintain course, (allegedly any brief instability was due to the massive hilarity enjoined by the Crew as they 'fell-about' due to witnessing Argentina's new 'sloops'), however, discipline was soon re-established, and tots of rum were passed around on the lower decks].
Then back across the Atlantic, stopping off at the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Tristan de Cunha, before reaching South Africa.
Leaving South Africa HMS Lancaster travelled up the west coast of Africa calling at Angola, Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Sierra Leone, Cape Verde Islands before crossing into Algeria and finally towards Gibraltar.
@ ilsen
Dec 16th, 2015 - 12:21 pm 0France, to a degree, who have a network of small bases in Africa and the middle East which compensates for their smaller fleet of tankers/support vessels. They regularly deploy to the Indian ocean to train with the Indians and they also have to police their EEZ around the DOM/TOMs (oversea territories) in a bunch of far flung places from Tahiti to Brazil (Guyanne Française) etc...
Amazing! All the way up the west coast of Africa, didn't have to put in anywhere for major repairs and no-one wanted to seize it.
Dec 16th, 2015 - 01:22 pm 0As ever, well done to “The Queen's Frigate”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Lancaster_(F229)
Now equipped with the AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat helicopter.
Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!