HMS Westminster (F237)

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HMS Westminster is a Type 23 frigate of the Royal Navy, and the second ship to bear the name. She was launched on 4 February 1992 and named after the Dukedom of Westminster.

Operational history

1994–2000

In early August 1995, Operation Harlech was initiated in response to a volcanic eruption in Montserrat. The Westminster arrived off the island on 9 August and provided emergency relief aid. The ship was joined by Template:HMS on 19 August, both ships provided emergency relief assistance until the end of the month.<ref name=Roberts>Template:Cite book</ref>

Westminster was used for the interior shots in the 1997 James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies as three different (fictional) Type 23 frigates – HMS Chester, HMS Devonshire and HMS Bedford.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On 3 February 1999, Westminster joined the Atlantic Patrol Ship South, relieving Template:HMS which was taking part in Operation Basilica in Sierra Leone. When the situation improved it was decided to withdraw Westminster and she sailed from the area on 18 March.<ref name=Roberts/>

2001–2010

In 2004, Westminster was assigned one of the Royal Navy's first Merlin helicopters.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Also in 2004, the ship was the first to be fitted with the new low-frequency Sonar 2087 designed to detect the most advanced submarines. The technology is controversial as its effects on marine wildlife remain unclear.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In December 2005, the ship's company of Westminster were all granted Freedom of the City of Westminster. 200 naval officers and sailors in full ceremonial uniform paraded through the streets of London from Westminster Abbey to Horse Guards as part of the celebration service. Westminster was chosen as a very rare recognition of her contributions to Westminster schools, local charities and the community as a whole. The honour entitles the crew the freedom to "parade through the City on all ceremonial occasions in full panoply and with drums beating, colours flying and bayonets fixed".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The frigate was deployed to Burma in May 2008 to spearhead the British relief effort after Cyclone Nargis devastated the country, but later had to withdraw after the junta refused to grant permission for aid to be landed.<ref>Royal Navy Template:Dead link</ref>

2011–2022

In March 2011, Westminster took part in Operation Ellamy, the British role in the coalition action during the 2011 Libyan civil war by enforcing a naval blockade.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref> She took part in Exercise Saxon Warrior in the Western Approaches with the US aircraft carrier Template:USS in May 2011, culminating in a so-called 'Thursday War'.<ref>Template:Cite news Template:Dead link</ref>

On 23 January 2012, Westminster departed Portsmouth to reinforce the British guided-missile destroyer Template:HMS that was also underway for the Persian Gulf to relieve the frigate Template:HMS.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Whilst in the Persian Gulf she made a port call in Dubai where one of her sailors (Leading Seaman Timothy Andrew MacColl, 27, from Gosport in Hampshire)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> disappeared, prompting a bilateral search between the Royal Navy and local authorities. He was declared dead by the Royal Navy in May 2014.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In early 2013, she was part of the multi-national Exercise Joint Warrior, practising amphibious operations off the coast of Scotland.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In September she was part of the COUGAR 13 task group, for a series of joint exercises in the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She visited Gibraltar on the way to the Middle East. This came amidst growing tensions between Spain and Britain over the status of Gibraltar; however the British Government described the visit as 'routine'. In September 2013, she practised anti-submarine drills with the Italian Navy's Template:Sclass Template:Ship and the Template:Sclass Template:Ship.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the Gulf of Oman, Westminster conducted anti-submarine drills against Template:USS.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In October 2013, she exercised with the Indian Navy off Goa.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On 8 September 2014, she docked at East India Dock, by Canary Wharf, in London. In November 2014, Westminster entered extended refit in Portsmouth; she returned to sea in January 2017 with a new principal weapon system, Sea Ceptor, in place of Seawolf, Radar Type 997 and numerous modifications and alterations to her accommodation and working spaces.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Westminster, in company with Template:HMS sailed with USS George H.W. Bush again, as in 2011, by taking part in Exercise Saxon Warrior off Scotland.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

During December 2018 on a tour of the Baltic Sea, Westminster experienced problems with her propulsion and engines while visiting the port of Gdynia, curtailing other port visits in the region.

In July 2020, she took part in NATO exercise Dynamic Mongoose.

In September 2022, Westminster fired two Harpoon missiles in Operation Atlantic Thunder 22 in a SinkEx exercise alongside US forces in which the decommissioned US frigate Template:USS was sunk in the North Atlantic.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2022, Westminster spent 90 days at sea.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Westminster entered a planned two-year refit in October 2022 with the intent of extending her service life until 2028–29.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2023–present

In May 2023, it was reported that the refit had been suspended due to the poor material condition of the ship, making her future uncertain.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In January 2024, it was reported that Westminster may be decommissioned and the crew reassigned to a future Type 26 frigate.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In May 2024, it was indicated that HMS Westminster would be retired and scrapped.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Affiliations

• Churchers College Royal Navy CCF Section<ref name=aff>Template:Cite web</ref>
• City of London School Royal Navy CCF Section<ref name=aff/>
• City of Westminster<ref name=aff/>
• Duke of Westminster<ref name=aff/>
• Haringey and Enfield Sea Cadet Unit<ref name=aff/>
• Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment<ref name=aff/>
• National Westminster Bank (Westminster branch)<ref name=aff/>
• Southgate and Barnet Sea Cadet Unit<ref name=aff/>
• The Parliamentary Maritime Group<ref name=aff/>
• Queen's Own Yeomanry<ref name=aff/>
• University of London Royal Naval Unit<ref name=aff/>
• Westminster Abbey Choir School<ref name=aff/>
• Westminster Underground Station<ref name=aff/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Worshipful Company of Fan Makers<ref name=aff/>

External links

• Template:Cite web