HMS Lancaster retiring: Built for 18 years of service – but went on to do 34
HMS Lancaster is being retired after almost 35 years of service – nearly double her expected lifespan.
The Type 23 frigate will not be coming to the UK one final time, as the decision has been made to dispose of her in Bahrain.
However, Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Steve Moorhouse, a former commanding officer of HMS Lancaster, said efforts would be made to return as many of the ship's company as possible home in time for Christmas.
Back in Bahrain - one last time
HMS Lancaster arrived in Bahrain today for the final time – ending one of the busiest and longest careers of any major British warship.
Flying her paying-off pennant – a ribbon-like White Ensign whose length reflects her 34 years of service – as she sailed into harbour, she was greeted by a 34-gun salute and the Band of His Majesty's Royal Marines from HMS Collingwood providing the appropriate musical accompaniment.
The 4,500-tonne warship powered down her engines after completing 4,097 days at sea and travelling 816,000 nautical miles – equivalent to 37½ times around the world or almost two return trips to the Moon.
A celebration of success
The Royal Navy posted a video message from VAdm Moorhouse on X, in which he said: "As she approaches retirement, I would encourage you all to celebrate everything that she's delivered on operations across the globe.
"As our longest-serving Type 23 frigate, Lancaster has exceeded the 18 years lifespan she was originally built for, with almost 35 years of outstanding service.
"Most recently, this has seen her forward-deployed in the Middle East, where her operational output has been simply exceptional.
"Just over three years in the region, supporting allies and partners, she was the first ship on task in the Red Sea during the heightened threat activity in December 2023.
"And she seized over £150m of narcotics, the latest of which was only a few weeks ago."
A versatile drug-buster
HMS Lancaster was built on the Clyde as the fourth of the Type 23 frigates, joining the fleet in 1992.
She proved to be a versatile multi-role vessel, and was typically deployed on drug-busting operations in the Caribbean or East of Suez on maritime security patrols.
Her most recent drug bust saw Royal Marines snipers disabling a fast boat from the ship’s Wildcat helicopter.
All the ships in the Type 23 class were named after Dukes, in this case the Duke of Lancaster who at the time was Queen Elizabeth II, although the title now belongs to King Charles.
Because of this, HMS Lancaster became known as the Queen's Frigate, being sponsored by Her Majesty and being visited by the late Queen on multiple occasions.
Fond memories
VAdm Moorhouse explained: "As a previous commanding officer of Lancaster, she represents many fond memories for me, and I know this will be true for all who have served on her.
"But it will be particularly poignant for the current ship's company, who will shortly bring her alongside in Bahrain for the final time.
"Rather than seek to extend the certification, we will now commence preparations for final disposal from there and not sail her back to the UK.
"Whilst I realise this will be disappointing to those who wish to bid her a final farewell, this reflects the extraordinary service she has delivered and the pride we take in having maximised every ounce of operational capability."
A history of highlights
:: 1990 – she was launched on the Clyde with Her Majesty The Queen present
:: 1994 – she made her maiden deployment to the Caribbean, including escorting the Royal Yacht Britannia around the West Indies and supporting UN operations in Haiti to reinstate the president who had been deposed by a coup
:: 1996-97 – she made a patrol of the South Atlantic
:: 2001 – HMS Lancaster enforced sanctions against Saddam Hussein's Iraq in the northern Gulf
:: 2006 – she escorted the French navy's carrier group led by FS Charles de Gaulle to the Indian Ocean for five months
:: 2008-10 – Lancaster was involved in counter-piracy operations, capturing and disrupting Somali pirates off the Horn of Africa
:: 2013 – she made a series of drugs busts on her Caribbean patrol including two resulting in £155m of illegal narcotics being seized
:: 2014 – Her Majesty The Queen posed on the bow for a unique ship's company photograph. She also carried out the first at-sea trials with the Navy's new Merlin Mk2 and Wildcat helicopters
:: 2020-21 – she carried out extensive patrols in the Arctic, Norway and North Atlantic
:: 2022 – HMS Lancaster was deployed to Bahrain to replace her sister ship HMS Montrose
:: 2023-24 – she seized missile components and anti-tank missiles being smuggled, helped evacuate civilians from Sudan amid widespread fighting and unrest, and safeguarded ships in both the Strait of Hormuz and Bab-al-Mandeb in the wake of the Israel-Gaza conflict and threats to commercial shipping
:: 2023-25 – Lancaster intercepted seven illegal narcotic cargoes, preventing approximately £150m of drugs reaching the West
:: 2025 – the Type 23 frigate provided air defence for UK and Coalition forces in the Gulf amid tensions between Iran and Israel
A "colourful" mascot
For a period, the ship also had a memorable mascot – a parrot named Sunny, donated by a national newspaper.
The bird became known for her colourful language, film quotes and whistling the Great Escape theme, though she was on her best behaviour during royal visits.
Sunny left the ship without replacement in 2005 for a new life in South Wales.
Throughout her life, the ship has been affiliated with both her namesake city of Lancaster and the RAF’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, whose Lancaster bomber would fly over Portsmouth Harbour when the frigate sailed on or returned from deployment.
Thanks to the crew – and their families
VAdm Moorhouse added: " I wish to pay particular tribute to the ship's company for their professionalism, and their families and loved ones for that unwavering support as we prepare the ship for disposal and look to return as many personnel as possible to the UK for Christmas.
"The UK maintains a long-standing maritime presence in the Arabian Gulf, and the UK Maritime Component Command in Bahrain continues to be central to the UK military operations across the Middle East region, working with our allies and partners."
The final plans for HMS Lancaster are yet to be confirmed.
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