1994 to present    

F237 HMS Westminster

UK Royal Navy





F237 HMS Westminster

IMO: 8949654
MMSI: 234641000
Flight Deck: WM
Call Sign: GCOK
Shipyard: Swan Hunter (Wallsend)





  Events


History of UK HMS Westminster F237

1989-decOrderedOrdered
1991-jan-18Laid downLaid down Swan Hunter (Wallsend) at Wallsend, Yard No 135, originally fitted with the less powerful Spey SM1A engines.
1992-feb-04LaunchedLaunched
1994-may-13CommissionedCommissioned
1995-aug-09DeploymentDeployment MS off Plymouth, MS Operation Harlech ordered to Montserrat in response to further eruptions for a relief and evacuation mission. Joined by HMS Southampton on 19 Aug.
1998-marAircraftAircraft assigned newly converted Lynx HMA.8 XZ255 as 228 Flt / 462-WM, until c Sep 2001.
2001-aug-24Port VisitPort Visit HMNB Portsmouth IFoS 2001 International Festival of Sea 2001 Present at IFoS Portsmouth.
2002DeploymentDeployment South Atlantic Atlantic Patrol Task (South) departed UK for Atlantic Patrol Task (South) deployment. Operated around Falkland Islands between Sep 2002 and Apr 2003, relieving HMS Newcastle and herself relieved by HMS Lancaster.
2004RefitRefit towed array sonar Type 2087 refit at HMD Rosyth to prepare for Merlin operations and undertake the first installation of the Type 2087 Sonar, rejoining the fleet on 27 Jan 2005.
2004-junAircraftAircraft assigned 824 NAS Merlin HM.1 ZH850 as /462-WM, until Oct 2004.
2004-octAircraftAircraft assigned 829 NAS Merlin HM.1 ZH850 as /462-WM, until Apr 2006.
2006-aprAircraftAircraft assigned 829 NAS Merlin HM.1 ZH857 as /415-WM, until Sep 2008.
2006-novPort VisitPort Visit SA Jeddah Naval Base visited Jeddah, Saudi Arabia during return from a 6 month Far East deployment.
2008-octAircraftAircraft assigned 829 NAS Merlin HM.1 ZH829 as /503, until Mar 2009.
2008-nov-20Port VisitPort Visit Tower Bridge Upper Pool of London visit to the Pool of London (tied up alongside HMS Belfast), until 24 Nov. (See picture and note the Mk.8 Mod 0 gun at A turret, prior to 2009/2010 refit).
2009-marAircraftAircraft assigned 829 NAS Merlin HM.1 ZH837 as /503, until Jul 2009.
2009-mayRefitRefit Mk.8 Mod 1 4.5 inch Entered HMD Devonport for refit until mid Mar 2010 with Babcock, to address Seawolf and its control system.
2010-julAircraftAircraft assigned 829 NAS Merlin HM.1 ZH858 as /502, until Aug 2010.
2010-augAircraftAircraft assigned 829 NAS Merlin HM.1 ZH841 as /502, until at least Jul 2011.
2011-marDeploymentDeployment departed from London and ordered off Libya to assist evacuation of UK nationals and support UN Security Council Resolution 1973. Relieved HMS York on station on 4 Mar.
2012-jan-23DeploymentDeployment departed HMNB Portsmouth for a 7 month Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean deployment, relieving HMS Somerset and due to be relieved by HMS Sutherland. She returned to Portsmouth on 13 Aug 2012 while 829 NAS 02 Flt Merlin arrived back at RNAS Culdrose on 14 Aug.
2013-mar-13Port VisitPort Visit Tower Bridge Upper Pool of London visit to the Pool of London (tied up alongside HMS Belfast), until 19 Mar. 815 NAS Lynx HMA.8 XZ691/462-WM ranged on deck.
2013-aug-13DeploymentDeployment Cougar 13 departed HMNB Portsmouth for 7 month deployment which included participation in Ex Cougar 13. 829 NAS Merlin HM.1 /415-WM embarked. Relieved HMS Kent in Indian Ocean during Oct 2013. Was relieved in turn by HMS Somerset on station on 11 Feb 2014 and returned to HMNB Portsmouth on 27 Feb, disembarking 815 NAS 234 Flight Lynx HMA.8 to Yeovilton.
2014-sep-24Port VisitPort Visit West India Dock (TQ) Thames Quay visit to Docklands for Royal Navy Reserve open day on 27 Sep and Freedom of the City of Westminster parade on Sep 28. Departed 29 Sep.
2014-novRefitRefit HMD Portsmouth surface and low level air search radar Type 997 Type 23 Mid Life Upgrade: refit at HMD Portsmouth (15 Dock), including new Command Systems and Artisan 3D radar fit, by BAE Systems. Refloated 8 Oct 2015. Sea Wolf replaced by Sea Ceptor. Completed Jan 2017.
2017-aug-01DeploymentDeployment North Western Approaches Saxon Warrior 17 Exercise Saxon Warrior 17 participated in NATO exercise
2019-mar-31DeploymentDeployment King George V Dock JW19-1 Exercise Joint Warrior 19-1 Part of NATO SNMG1, arrived in Glasgow, for JW19-1. Then proceeding to 6 month NATO Baltic deployment.
2019-aug-03DeploymentDeployment FRE shadowed PLAN Xian through English Channel as she returned to China from St Petersburg Navy Days.
2019-aug-05Port VisitPort Visit West India Dock (TQ) Thames Quay visted West India Dock until 8 Aug. Exercised Freedom of the City rights on 7 Aug.
2020-mayAircraftAircraft 814 NAS Tungsten Flt Merlin embarked.
2021-octDeploymentDeployment spent a period in the North Atlantic on anti-submarine operations as the UK Towed-Array Patrol Ship (TAPS), with Kingfisher Flt of 814 NAS Merlin HM.2 embarked.
2022-sep-07DeploymentDeployment Ex Atlantic Thunder joined exercise to sink ex-USS Boone in North Atlantic, with two Harpoon missiles.



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  Specifications


Type 23 Duke class
180crew
3600light (tn)
4200full load (tn)
133length (m)
16.10beam (m)
5.50draught (m)
7800range (nm)
28max speed (knots)

4Naval Engine diesel - Paxman Valenta 12CM
2Naval Engine electric motors
2Naval Engine gas turbine - Rolls Royce Spey
2Naval Engine propulsion system: CODLAG

2Missile Launcher Mk 141 quad Harpoon
1Missile Launcher Sea Wolf

2Naval Gun single 30 mm
1Naval Gun Mk.8 Mod 1 4.5 inch
4Chaff and decoys Seagnat
1Chaff and decoys towed decoy Type 182
1Chaff and decoys towed decoy Type 2070 Talisman

2Naval Radar fire direction radar Type 911
1Naval Radar navigation radar Type 1007
1Naval Radar surface and low level air search radar Type 996
1Sonar towed array sonar Type 2031
1Sonar hull mounted sonar Type 2050

helicopter   Aircraft


Typical Max
UK Royal Navy AW EH101 11
UK Royal Navy Westland Lynx 11
UK Royal Navy AW AW159 Wildcat HMA2 10





  Builder


UK Swan Hunter (Wallsend), Wallsend






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