HMS Westminster (F237)
.jpg) HMS Westminster in 2011 |
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| Career (UK) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | HMS Westminster |
| Operator: | Royal Navy |
| Ordered: | December 1989 |
| Builder: | Swan Hunter, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom |
| Laid down: | 18 January 1991 |
| Launched: | 4 February 1992 |
| Commissioned: | 13 May 1994 |
| Motto: | For Nation and for Glory |
| Status: | in active service, as of 2012[update] |
| Badge: |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Type 23 Frigate |
| Displacement: | 4,900 tonnes, standard[1] |
| Length: | 133 m (436 ft 4 in) |
| Beam: | 16.1 m (52 ft 10 in) |
| Draught: | 7.3 m (23 ft 9 in) |
| Propulsion: | CODLAG with four 1510 kW (2,025 shp) Paxman Valenta 12CM diesel generators powering two GEC electric motors delivering 2980kW (4000 shp) and two Rolls-Royce Spey SM1A delivering 23,190 kW (31,100 shp) to two shafts |
| Speed: | 28 knots, HMS Sutherland achieved 34.4 knots during high-speed trials (November 2008) |
| Range: | 14,485 km (9,000 miles) at 15 knots |
| Complement: | 185 |
| Electronic warfare and decoys: |
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| Armament: |
Anti-air missiles; Anti-ship missiles; Anti-submarine torpedoes; Guns; |
| Aircraft carried: | 1×Lynx HMA8, armed with;
1×Westland Merlin HM1, armed with;
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| Aviation facilities: |
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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.
Westminster was used for the interior shots in the 1997 James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies in three different roles - as HMS Chester, HMS Devonshire and HMS Bedford. For the exterior shots a model was constructed.
Contents |
[edit] Operational History
In 2004, Westminster was assigned one of the Royal Navy's first Merlin helicopters.[2] Also in 2004, the ship was the first to be fitted with new state-of-the-art sonar technology designed to detect the most advanced submarines. The technology is controversial as its effects on marine wildlife remain unclear.[3]
In December 2005, the ship's company of Westminster were all granted Freedom of the City of London. 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".[4]
She 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.[5]
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.[6] She took part in Exercise Saxon Warrior in the Western Approaches with the US aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush in May 2011, culminating in a so called 'Thursday War'.[7]
On 23 January 2012, Westminster departed Portsmouth to reinforce the British guided-missile destroyer Daring that was also underway for the Persian Gulf to relieved the frigate Argyll.[8]
[edit] Affiliations
- Duke of Westminster[9]
- City of Westminster[9]
- Worshipful Company of Fanmakers[9]
- Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment[9]
- The Queen's Own Yeomanry[9]
- Westminster Abbey Choir School[9]
- Churchers College Royal Navy CCF Section[9]
- City of London School Royal Navy CCF Section[9]
- Southgate and Barnet Sea Cadet Unit[9]
- Haringey and Enfield Sea Cadet Unit[9]
- University of London Royal Naval Unit[9]
- The Parliamentary Maritime Group[9]
- Westminster Underground Station[9]
- National Westminster Bank (Westminster branch)[9]
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/The-Fleet/Ships/Frigates
- ^ BBC NEWS | England | Cornwall | Last Merlin squadron commissioned
- ^ BBC NEWS | Scotland | New sonar protection for warships
- ^ HMS Westminster crew granted Freedom of the City
- ^ http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.12759/changeNav/6568
- ^ http://www.navynews.co.uk/news/1123-royal-navy-blockade-forces-gaddafis-gunboats-off-the-ocean.aspx
- ^ "Torbay 'targets' world's most powerful carrier". http://www.navynews.co.uk/news/1200-torbay-targets-worlds-most-powerful-carrier.aspx. Retrieved 2011-05-26.
- ^ David Blair (January 23, 2011). "Britain, US and France send warships through Strait of Hormuz". News-World. The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/9031392/Britain-US-and-France-send-warships-through-Strait-of-Hormuz.html. Retrieved 2012-01-24.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "HMS Westminster affiliations". Royal navy website. http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/surface-fleet/type-23-frigates/hms-westminster/affiliations/index.htm. Retrieved 2011-05-26.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: HMS Westminster (F237) |
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