HMS Lancaster concludes nine-month deployment

HMS Lancaster, the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate, returned to Portsmouth December 17 from a nine-month deployment to the North and South Atlantic.

The frigate has steamed more than 35,000 nautical miles across four oceans and has visited 23 ports in 18 countries.

She was also the first Royal Navy vessel to deploy with the new Wildcat maritime attack helicopter.

Highlights include participation in U.S. Navy Fleet Week in New Orleans, 12 exercises with foreign navies, seven weeks of defence engagement in South Africa and training foreign navies in West Africa.

The ship’s new Wildcat – from 825 Squadron based at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in Somerset – flew 200 hours supporting the ship’s activities.

Aside from operations, HMS Lancaster’s 200 crew have raised over £10,000 for charitable causes including the ship’s charity Unique Kidz and Co which provides specialist services for disabled children and their families.

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