HMS Westminster returned to Portsmouth today after five months on what the Royal Navy call a “critical patrol safeguarding UK waters and keeping a close eye on submarines on operations”.

According to a Royal Navy news release, the Type 23 frigate has patrolled vast areas of the Atlantic using her “state-of-the-art weapons and sensors to track submarine movements but also escort ships through waters closer to UK shores”.

“Sailors of HMS Westminster spent the festive period away from their loved ones on patrol after being at sea almost constantly since deploying last summer to guard the UK’s ‘back yard’ and work with allies to monitor any potential threats lurking beneath the waves. Westminster has been at the tip of the nation’s submarine hunting spear as the Royal Navy’s TAPS – the Towed-Array Patrol Ship – that is part of a comprehensive protective ring around waters key to UK interests, determined to keep the prying eyes of hostile submarines at bay.”

Commanding Officer, Commander Louise Ray, was quoted as saying:

“It is occasions like these that remind all of my team that we would struggle to do what we do without the support of our families and friends. Waving to all of those who were on the hot walls and Round Tower today is really important and I thank them, and all of our friends and family who could not make the journey, for the support they show us each and every day when we are deployed.”

Westminster spent 121 days of their 151-day deployment at sea, sailing 24,000 nautical miles and stopping in Hamburg in Germany, Trondheim in Norway and Reykjavik in Iceland along the way, you can read more about this from the Royal Navy itself here.

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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30 COMMENTS

    • Hi Paul 42, Sting Ray, Type 2150 Sonar and improved data management.

      “While Sting Ray torpedoes are deployed on Anti-Submarine Warfare mission, including frigates, Merlin and Wildcat helicopters.

      They provide a close attack capability which also automatically targets in on enemy threats.”

      https://www.gov.uk/government/news/230-million-contract-to-bolster-royal-navy-torpedoes

      “HMS Portland becomes the first ship to be fitted with Ultra’s next-generation Hull Mounted Sonar Type 2150 as part of a wider refit to the Royal Navy’s frigates.”

      https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2020/04/first-s2150-sonar-fitted-aboard-royal-navy-type-23-frigate-hms-portland/

      “Ultra announced 22 November 2021 the successful update of the Platform Data Management (PDM) for the Type 23 Royal Navy Frigates. The updated PDM system provides navigation and mission-critical data from sensors to numerous systems around the ship.”
      https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/11/ultra-updates-platform-data-system-on-royal-navys-type-23-frigates/

        • All top secret no doubt!

          The Duke Class is fitted with the Type 2070 towed torpedo decoy system as well so a pretty useful system all around. ⚓

          • Doubt it. GB has explained many times why a helicopter is a better asset for ASW for the RN.

          • Helicopter is great providing its servicable and weather conditions allow flight/operation. But ASROC is a useful back up for those occasions when your helo is unavailable…..and in circumstances allows a two pronged attack on a sub!

          • Others have commented that if the Ship and Sub are close enough for ASROC to come into play one or both of them have flipped up.

          • The latest version has a range of 20,000 yards, that’s 11.364 miles…….I would say that’s pretty handy when you consider your ship launched Stingray has a maximum range of 12,000 yards and is all you have if your helo is US….which is why the USN is using it…..

          • In modern Ship, Sub and Helo sonars have much greater detection ranges except under exceptional circumstances. USN still deploy it but in my opinion and i’m no expert. It’s almost a psychological thing. A backup in case everything goes pear shaped not a weapon they expect to have to use. If I had the money to equip to equip RN ships with ASROC I wouldn’t spend it on ASROC. There are better uses for that money.

          • In a ship designed primarily for anti-submarine purposes the latest version of ASROC is one of the best weapons money can buy. If you have a servicable helo, you have a major advantage, if you don’t you have a problem…….being able to strike at a sub 11.3 miles away without a helo before he can close on you is a real game changer, ship launched Stingray at 12,000 yards narrows your options and hands part of your advantage to your adversary….

          • Absolutely. ASROC is an excellent ASW system. But Gunbuster among others has stated that in his experience no Helo mission has been scrubbed because the Helo was not operational. When you consider that in the not too distant future you can add drones into the mix I just see ASROC having a limited role in ASW warfare.

          • The issue with ASROC is the torpedo it carries. It does not carry Sting Ray but the bastardised Mk46 backend mated to a Mk 50 front end making the MK54.
            Sting Ray was made because the MK 46 sensors, warhead and propulsion could not kill the then latest 1970/80s era subs such as Alphas and Typhoons.
            Since then nothing has changed the MK 54 has new front end sensors but still has the 1960s era blast warhead and a propulsion system that is simply not fast enough.

            In addition ASROC takes up launch tubes. Fire them and that’s it you are left with empty launch tubes. Helo launched torpedoes (wildcat has 2, Merlin up to 4) can be rotors running rearmed onto an aircraft in around 5 mins. There are plenty of reloads in a T23 mag to keep the aircraft armed up. You can also RAS Sting Ray at sea to restock the mag, something you cannot do with ASROC.

          • I’m not in any way an expert on these things, but I would have thought that an enemy submarine at 11/12 miles away, the ship would be comfortably inside the subs kill zone?

          • The Japanese version of ASROC would be a great addition especially as uk is getting onto increased levels of technology sharing. I agree Helo may be best asset but as you say Paul it does represent a massive single point of failure / non availability risk…..and they do fail, have accidents, need maintenance, need refuelling.

          • I believe the argument is between a helo/ASROC or helo/LTS combination.
            Is there no way to mount the ASROC rocket to a Stingray torpedo?

          • The Japanese version Type 7 has a range of 30,000 yards with up to supersonic speed…..wonder if it could be matched with Stingray instead of Mk46/54 which is fact the NATO standard.?
            Helo missions do get scrubbed, seen that with Merlins on HMS Illustrious, and bearing in mind an increased tempo of operations during wartime conditions, its not wise to place all your eggs in one basket……

  3. They called in here just before Xmas, thought at first they were getting some sesonal shore leave, nice to know someone was minding the shop. Understand there is usually traffic of interest back to Murmansk for the Orthodox Xmas/New year.

  4. ‘Westminster has been at the tip of the nation’s submarine hunting spear as the Royal Navy’s TAPS – the Towed-Array Patrol Ship – that is part of a comprehensive protective ring’

    May I have a pinch of salt with this story please, given what happened to one of her sisters as reported yesterday?

    I sincerely hope the RN stop taking a leaf out of Bluffer’s book on spouting tosh.

    Fantastic effort on the part of the crew, mind!

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