Youth Club visit to warship

St George’s Youth club visited the warship HMS Lancaster on Sunday 3rd February. HMS Lancaster is a Type 23 frigate in the Duke class. Launched by her Majesty the Queen in 1990 she was accepted into the service and commissioned in November 1991. Type 23 frigates are the mainstay of the modern fleet, heavily armed with sea wolf and harpoon missiles, 8 torpedo tubes, and a 114mm gun capable of firing 20 rounds a minute very accurately. The ship tows a sonar system for detecting enemy submarines. She weighs 4500 tons and is 133 metres long. She carries a massive Merlin helicopter for anti submarines duties.

Our group of 20 children plus 8 adults arrived in the dockyard and after passing through security we drove out to Fountain Lake Jetty where Lancaster was berthed. CPO Paul Battersby began the tour on the upper deck in a biting wind. Very soon we retired into the hangar to see the Merlin's ‘kennel’. Great care is taken when handling the monster Merlin as its cost new is a stunning 65 million pounds! For absolute accuracy the beast is winched into its hangar on special rails and pulled by three small-motorised pulleys. From the hangar we went to inspect the sonar gear at the rear of the ship. It resembled one of the great cable laying ships of the past with its massive reel of thick wire which is streamed to detect under water activity.

We moved on to the Central Control room, the hub of the ships machinery control and there were explained the functions of this area. Manned 24 hours a day at all times the room is a monitor of everything that works in the ship and control the main engines which are both diesel and gas turbines, the latter being used to increase speed. On to the Operations room which is the heart of the fighting capability of the ship. Manned by the experts in all the different aspects of the war at sea, this area becomes a veritable hive of activity during exercises and of course, during any real hostilities!

The fire fighting capability of the ship was emphasised at all points of the tour as fire at sea is the main dread of all sailors. Everyone has their task to perform in the event of fire and the ongoing maintenance and cleanliness of the equipment was pointed out.

Up to the bridge where we could see for miles around us and look down on the wind swept upper deck where we could spot the sea wolf and harpoon armament, as well as the foredeck gun, from above. We saw the preparations laid out for leaving harbour the following morning as the ship was to sail for exercise early on the Monday. We took a quick look into the Captain’s day cabin where the accommodation was much more luxurious than the sailor’s accommodation with comfy sofas and a fine desk.

We finished up in a dining area where Paul had kindly arranged for drinks and doughnuts for his visitors. Paul presented the club with a photo of the ship and a ship’s crest to display in our hall. After a question session we disembarked with the customary pause for photos on the gangway.

It was a splendid afternoon out for the children who seemed quite amazed by the hardships of early morning starts, limited leave (holidays) communal living and (to their minds) primitive conditions. Thank goodness they were not around in the days of old wooden wall ships!

With many thanks to Paul and his team for a great visit.

Tony Rice-Oxley