After 18 months of refit work, HMS Westminster is ready for sea again. The work has seen the most powerful and advanced frigate in the Royal Navy completely overhauled and ready for her final decade of service. A number of upgrades have been applied to the ship, which the Royal Navy will implement in future Type 26 Frigates.
HMS Westminster is also the first ship to receive the new Sea Ceptor missile system, the Navy’s new shield against air attack. Sister ships, the Argyll and Montrose, will also receive the new system during their own overhauls at the Devonport yard.
The new system replaces the veteran Seawolf, which has protected the frigate flotilla for more than 35 years. The Seawolf required large guidance trackers, which have removed and replaced during the overhauls, with smaller, more powerful sensors.
The silo has also been adapted to accommodate the new supersonic missiles, heavier, over one metre longer and with a range of more than 25km (15 miles), more than twice that of Seawolf.
Engineers have also installed the Artisan radar, which is rapidly becoming prevalent on the Type 23s – it can track more than 800 objects simultaneously as close as 200m and as far away as 200km.
It is not just the technology that has received attention during the overhaul, with Westminster’s hull receiving a coat of anti-fouling paint which will stop algae and other marine organisms sticking to it, which in turn can slow the ship down; while the bridge, galley, mess decks and communal areas revamped.
Basin/harbour trials will be conducted on most systems and equipment, before the ship can go back to sea, and the crew must undergo training and finally assessment before being authorised to sail a multi-million pound warship.
Following completion of the trials, Westminster will be handed back to the RN next spring.
“HMS Westminster is emerging from an extended refit period as one of the most capable surface ships in the Royal Navy,” said her new Commanding Officer Cdr Simon Kelly.
“She has benefited from a number of significant upgrades many of which the Royal Navy will invest in the future Type 26 Frigate. The partnership with BAE Systems throughout this period has been excellent, for which I thank all of the team.”
Richard Dingley, Fleet Services director at BAE Systems, said: “HMS Westminster’s upkeep programme confirms the company’s ship support capabilities and sustains the Royal Navy’s desire for the long term availability of their ships.
“We are continuing to deliver support to more than half of the Royal Navy’s surface fleet. This includes technical services, training solutions and modernisation programmes, as well as maintenance, repair and upgrades to ships and equipment.
“Our attention will now focus on returning to the fleet as an operational warship next year.”
Images: Crown Copyright
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BAE Systems HMS Westminster maritime Royal Navy Sea Ceptor Seawolf ship Training Type 23 Frigate
Post written by: Vicky Maggiani
Vicky has worked in media for over 20 years and has a wealth of experience in editing and creating copy for a variety of sectors.
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