Upgraded Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster ready to hit the high seas after huge overhaul

A ROYAL Navy warship is ready to hit the high seas again after a major upgrade to her warfighting hardware.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

HMS Lancaster is now bristling with the latest military kit, from the sophisticated Artisan 3D radar and improved navigational radar, to the newest Sea Ceptor missile system.

And after a series of tests at sea, Portsmouth-based Lancaster is now ready to be called upon by the navy.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The news came a month after the warship – nicknamed the Red Rose – celebrated its 30th birthday.

HMS Lancaster pictured returning to Portsmouth in December after her major refit. Photo: AB Chris Sellars/Royal NavyHMS Lancaster pictured returning to Portsmouth in December after her major refit. Photo: AB Chris Sellars/Royal Navy
HMS Lancaster pictured returning to Portsmouth in December after her major refit. Photo: AB Chris Sellars/Royal Navy
Read More
Sailor suffered ‘brain trauma’ in attack by teenage thief

Commander Will Blackett, Lancaster’s captain, said: ‘Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic we’ve been maintaining our focus on bringing Lancaster back to readiness so that we can play our part in Royal Navy operations again.

‘My crew have done brilliantly well getting us to this point but there is still a lot of hard work to get through.

‘HMS Lancaster has been a fabulous asset to the nation across three decades and our goal is to make these final years of her service the finest of all.’

Pictured left to right: navigator 'Navs' Lieutenant Webber and and Commander Will Blackett, commanding officer of HMS Lancaster, during an exercise at sea. Photo: Royal NavyPictured left to right: navigator 'Navs' Lieutenant Webber and and Commander Will Blackett, commanding officer of HMS Lancaster, during an exercise at sea. Photo: Royal Navy
Pictured left to right: navigator 'Navs' Lieutenant Webber and and Commander Will Blackett, commanding officer of HMS Lancaster, during an exercise at sea. Photo: Royal Navy
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The ship’s crew used their latest spell at sea to practice drills and scenarios including their response to attack by multiple small craft, simulated by patrol boats HMS Exploit and Ranger, tackling a fire in the galley, and gunnery with close-in weapons and the main 4.5in gun.

Launched in 1990 and commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1992, she will remain based in Portsmouth for the fourth decade of her service.

Her refit was carried out at Devonport Naval Base, in Plymouth, and she returned to Portsmouth in December.

Next on the ship’s diary will be summer leave, followed by weapons training and then six weeks of fleet operational sea training to prove the ship’s company, and the vessel’s systems, are ready for global deployment.

A gunner watches from HMS Lancaster. Photo: Royal NavyA gunner watches from HMS Lancaster. Photo: Royal Navy
A gunner watches from HMS Lancaster. Photo: Royal Navy

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this story on portsmouth.co.uk. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to portsmouth.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit our Subscription page now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.