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Revision as of 20:15, 2 November 2008
 HMS Westminster moored alongside HMS Belfast
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| History | |
|---|---|
 UK | |
| Name | HMS Westminster (F237) |
| Operator | Royal Navy |
| Ordered | December 1989 |
| Builder | Swan Hunter |
| Laid down | 18 January 1991 |
| Launched | 4 February 1992 |
| Commissioned | 13 May 1994 |
| Motto | For Nation and for Glory |
| Fate | Template:Ship fate box active in service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | 'Duke'-class Type 23 frigate |
| Displacement | 4,900 tonnes |
| Length | 133 m (463 ft 3 in) |
| Beam | 16.1 m (52 ft 10 in) |
| Draught | 7.3 m (23 ft 11 in) |
| Propulsion | list error: <br /> list (help) CODLAG (Combined Diesel-eLectric And Gas) 2 × Rolls-Royce Spey boost gas-turbines 4 × Paxman Valenta diesel engines 2 × GEC electric motors |
| Speed | list error: <br /> list (help) 28 knots (52 km/h) 15 knots (28 km/h) on diesel-electric |
| Range | 7,800 nautical miles (14,400 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h) |
| Complement | 185 |
| Armament | list error: <br /> list (help) 2 × ASuW Harpoon quad launchers Vertical launch system Sea Wolf missiles 1 × BAE 4.5 inch (110 mm) Mk 8 gun 2 × Oerlikon 30 mm guns 4 × Sting Ray torpedo tubes Seagnat and DFL3 decoy launchers |
| Aircraft carried | 1 × Merlin MH1 helicopter |
HMS Westminster (F237) is a Type 23 frigate of the Royal Navy, and the second ship to bear the name. She was launched on 4 February 1992.
HMS Westminster was used for the interior shots in the 1997 James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies in three different roles - as HMS Chester, HMS Devonshire and HMS Bedford. For the exterior shots a model was constructed.
In 2004, HMS Westminster was assigned one of the Royal Navy's first Merlin helicopters. Also in 2004, the ship was the first to be fitted with new state-of-the-art sonar technology designed to detect the most advanced submarines. The technology is controversial as its effects on marine wildlife remain unclear.
In December 2005, the ship's company of HMS Westminster were all granted Freedom of the City of London. 200 naval officers in full ceremonial uniform paraded through the streets of London from Westminster Abbey to Horse Guards as part of the celebration service. HMS Westminster was chosen as a very rare recognition of her contributions to Westminster schools, local charities and the community as a whole. The honour entitles the crew the freedom to "parade through the City on all ceremonial occasions in full panoply and with drums beating, colours flying and bayonets fixed".
She was deployed to Burma in May 2008 to spearhead the British relief effort after Cyclone Nargis devastated the country, but later had to withdraw after the junta refused to grant permission for aid to be landed.
Affiliations
- Duke of Westminster
- City of Westminster
- Worshipful Company of Fanmakers
- Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment
- The Queen's Own Yeomanry
- Westminster Abbey Choir School
- Churchers College Royal Navy CCF Section
- City of London School Royal Navy CCF Section
- Southgate and Barnet Sea Cadet Unit
- Haringey and Enfield Sea Cadet Unit
- University of London Royal Naval Unit
- The Parliamentary Maritime Group
- Westminster Underground Station
- National Westminster Bank (Westminster branch)
- Westminster Boating Base (WBB)
References
- BBC NEWS | England | Cornwall | Last Merlin squadron commissioned
- BBC NEWS | Scotland | New sonar protection for warships
- HMS Westminster crew granted Freedom of the City
External links
Gallery
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A tribute to the ship at Westminster tube station.
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Docked in Portsmouth next to HMS Iron Duke.
| Type 23 frigates | |
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 Royal Navy | |
 Chilean Navy |
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