HMS Lancaster gets a roaring homecoming

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A 1940s Lancaster bomber took to the skies over Portsmouth on Friday 7 July 2006 to give a special welcome to its namesake warship which returned home from international maritime security duties in the Middle East.

A Lancaster Bomber from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flies over HMS Lancaster as she returns to Portsmouth Harbour
[Picture: LA (Phot) Judy Hurst]

The aircraft, from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at RAF Coningsby, flew over HMS Lancaster as she entered Portsmouth Harbour. The bomber is one of only two remaining airworthy Lancasters left in the world – the other is in Canada.

HMS Lancaster, a Type 23 frigate, left Portsmouth on 13 February 2006 to work with a French task group in the Northern Arabian Sea. She provided protection to the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle as her aircraft launched reconnaissance and strike missions over Kandahar province, Afghanistan, and also worked closely with the French destroyer Casasard, the frigate Montcalm, nuclear-powered submarine Saphir and the supply ship Somme.

The joint force was mainly involved in maritime security operations in the region, keeping a close eye out for ships involved in smuggling, piracy or terrorism. The busy deployment also included exercises with the navies of India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.

For Lancaster's Marine Engineer Officer, Lieutenant Commander Steve Shuttleworth, engaging with the Indian ship Viraat bought back many memories - he served as an apprentice on the ship in her previous life as the RN aircraft carrier HMS Hermes. And in March 2006, Lancaster assisted the 60,000 tonne container ship Hyundai Fortune which suffered an explosion and was drifting while on fire in the Gulf of Aden. The frigate stayed on station for 36 hours to help shipping avoid the many containers blown overboard from the stricken vessel which were posing a hazard.

Crew members of HMS Lancaster look forward to being reunited with their families
[Picture: LA (Phot) Judy Hurst]

Her Commanding Officer, Commander James Morley, hailed the deployment a success and said he was proud of what the ship's company had achieved:

"We have made a very positive contribution to the safety and security of merchant shipping in the region and strengthened our links with the French navy," he said.

Sailors on board also raised £1,200 for Lancashire-based charity CancerCare through various events including a sponsored 'row' on machines as the ship returned through the Suez Canal.

Lancaster's return is the first of five homecomings involving Portsmouth warships over the next four weeks. Later in July 2006 HMS Liverpool returns from the South Atlantic, Illustrious and Gloucester from the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean and St Albans returns in early August 2006 from the Gulf.

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