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HMS Lancaster's year

2007 has blown Hot and Cold for our affiliated warship, HMS Lancaster

2007 has been another busy year for HMS Lancaster, one which saw her patrolling in the Caribbean during the early months and up in the icy North Atlantic during the summer. 

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Lancaster aids a yachtsman in distress in the Atlantic
The first three months we spent working with the US Coast Guard out in the West Indies, combating drug runners, and on hand if needed to provide humanitarian assistance should a hurricane strike.  There were many highlights on the deployment; one was providing support to HRH Prince Charles during his official visit to Sierra Leone, where our Merlin helicopter was used to fly him around the area.  We were to visit again on our return and members of the Ship's Company helped with a CIMIC (Civilian Military Cooperation) project.  We also did CIMIC work in Granada and in Grand Turk.  Our time in Granada was also special as HMS Lancaster provided a Guard for the Independence Day parade, which was a very colourful affair and the lads enjoyed it very much. Overall it was a very successful deployment in which we did our bit to prevent drugs reaching the streets of Britain and mainland Europe.  The Ship's Company further extended the hand of friendship, playing sport against the local teams and providing help and advice with many local government agencies ashore, in particularly to the Islands’ Hurricane Relief Organisations.  On our return the Ship completed a much needed maintenance period before heading north to take part in the spectacular launch of the Astute submarine in Barrow.  The Ship's Company was able to take the opportunity to visit our adopted City, Lancaster, marching through the centre to cheering crowds.  
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The ship's company of HMS Lancaster exercised their right to march through the city with bayonets fixed and colours flying.
June and July saw us further north, working with our Submarines off the coast of Scotland.  We were to spend quite some time patrolling the cold seas of the North Atlantic between the Iceland Faros gap, but as an anti submarine frigate it is what we were design to do and we were to keep a very quiet vigil up there until returning towards the end of July.  After our summer break we once again went North to take part in submarine training and exercise Neptune Warrior involving many of our NATO Allies.  This was followed by a the Ship hosting a Farewell Cocktail Party for Commander in Chief Fleet Admiral Sir Burnell-Nugent in Faslane.  The Ship then headed across the North Sea into the Baltic to complete exercise 'Northern Coasts'.  Lancaster visited Oslo, Kiel and Gdinya. Throughout the year Lancaster has provided support for Principal Warfare Officers and Navigating Officers sea training periods.  

Over the past twelve months the Ship has held many events to support our ships charities, Cancer Care and A Breath For Life; these have included a 'horse racing night', a sponsored back shave, a cycle ride from Portsmouth to Lancaster and rowing the Kiel Canal to name a few.  All in all the Ship's Company has raised over £4000.

As the year draws to a close the Ship will be alongside in her home port, offering a chance to be with our loved ones and complete a much needed maintenance period.  As the festive season approaches, we would like to wish all our family, friends and affiliations a joyous Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Captain and Crew of HMS Lancaster 

 
 
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