Page 16 - A4 Journal 2020

Our Military Affiliations

HMS LANCASTER
Lt Cdr Danny Glover, the Marine Engineer Officer on HMS Lancaster writes:

“The Ship returned from her last Operational deployment in December 2015, and was placed in extended
readiness in Portsmouth harbour. In 2017 the ship was towed to Plymouth to start her Upkeep period but due
to the amount of remedial structural work on the hull the Upkeep was extended to two years. However, two
years later in April 2019 HMS LANCASTER saw her first six crew members join and since then the crew has
grown in numbers to over 165.

The last 18 months have consisted of countless tests and trials as many of the systems have laid dormant for nearly four
years and an additional challenge has been to integrate new machinery and equipment which includes new navigational
radar, sea captor missile system, RT997 radar and mission essential communications equipment. On top of all this HMS
Lancaster has had to ensure that each member of the crew is safe to be at sea - so firefighting and damage control exercises
are taking place daily to enhance the core knowledge of the crew. The impact of the Global Pandemic – COVID-19, called for
a shift in Command Focus and the Commanding Officer, Commander Will Blackett RN, had to ensure that as well as
maintaining the Ship’s Operational Capability and associated Readiness level, the crew were available to support their loved
ones at home during the time of National Crisis when the UK went into lock-down.

As Government lock-down restrictions eased, the Ship completed an
essential Maintenance Period in her homeport of Portsmouth ahead of
returning to sea for further tasking, the 4.5in Gun was fired for the first time
since Upkeep, and the organic training continued. For the last few weeks
and with the Ship’s Basic Operational Sea Training package due to
commence at the end of September 2020, the Ship has intensified the
training and at the same time it has increased the intensity of maintenance
and cleaning routines in order to bring the Ship up to the best possible
material state in preparation for frontline Operations.

With the crews families and loved ones always at the front of their minds, even when away at sea, the Ship has
launched the Lancaster Kids Club so that it is a fun way for families to stay closer in touch and to further
understand what the Ship is doing.

Each day at sea provides HMS LANCASTER with more experience and collectively the Ship becomes ever more capable to
deliver in her future Operations.

HMS Lancaster off her home port - Portsmouth

Page 16 | The Journal of the Worshipful Company of Constructors | Autumn 2020