Name: HMS LANCASTER F229
Operator: Royal Navy
Ordered: September 1986
Builder: Yarrow Shipbuilders
Laid down: 18 December 1987
Launched: 24 May 1990
Sponsored by: Queen Elizabeth II
Commissioned: 1 May 1992
Homeport: HMNB Portsmouth
Nickname(s): The Queen's Frigate, The Red Rose Frigate
Status: in active service
General characteristics:
Class and type: Type 23 Frigate
Displacement: 4,900t (4,800 long tons, 5,400 short tons)
Length: 133m
Beam: 16.1m
Draught: 7.3m
Propulsion:
CODLAG:
Four 1510kws (2,025shp) Paxman Valenta 12CM diesel generators
Two GEC electric motors delivering 2980kws (4000shp)
Two Rolls-Royce Spey SM1C delivering 23,190kws (31,100shp)
Speed: In excess of 28kn (52km/h; 32mph)
Range: 7,500 nautical miles (14,000km) at 15 kn (28km/h)
Complement: 185 (accommodation for up to 205)
Electronic warfare and decoys:
UAF-1 ESM, or, UAT Mod 1
Seagnat
Type 182 towed torpedo decoy
Surface Ship Torpedo Defence
Armament:
Anti-air missiles:
1 × 32-cell Sea Wolf GWS.26 VLS canisters for 32:
Sea Wolf missiles (range 1-10kms)
Anti-ship missiles:
2 × quad Harpoon launchers
Anti-submarine torpedoes:
2 × Twin 12.75in (324mm) Sting Ray torpedo tubes
Guns:
1 × BAE 4.5inch Mk 8 naval gun
2 × 30mm DS30M Mk2 guns, or, 2× 30mm DS30B guns
2 × Miniguns
4 × General purpose machine guns
Aircraft carried:
1 × Lynx HMA8, armed with;
4 × Sea Skua anti ship missiles, or
2 × anti submarine torpedoes
or
1 × Westland Merlin HM1, armed with;
4 × anti submarine torpedoes
Aviation facilities:
Flight deck, enclosed hanger.