The Starboard Crew of HMS Lancaster has taken over the ship for the next four months (Picture: Royal Navy)
HMS Lancaster has rotated her crew to sustain her operations in the Gulf region during the Christmas period.
The Royal Navy’s Type 23 Duke-Class frigate has switched her 200-strong Port Crew with her Starboard Crew. Port Crew will spend Christmas at home, while Starboard will go out on deployment for four months.
“It has been an awesome four months delivering effect in region,” said Officer of the Watch Lieutenant Jack Mason.
Lt Mason said: “No two days have been the same, whether that be conducting counter-narcotic operations or escorting merchant vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
“The team really does work when everyone comes together to meet the command aim.”
One crew operates the warship for four months at a time, then switches places with the second crew while they return to the UK. The period is known as a RIP, or Roulement in Place.
The ship’s Wildcat helicopter comes into land (Picture: Royal Navy)
HMS Lancaster has spent 1,408 hours on patrol and has travelled more than 11,500 miles, sailing nearly half-way around the world.
The returning Port Crew joined the ship at the height of the summer since when they have captured £3m worth of drugs, trained with allies and escorted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Her Wildcat helicopter, callsign Pyro, flew more than 7,000 nautical miles, carried out 180 deck landings and safely delivered the medical officer to an allied warship to treat a casualty.
The crew train with their Glock 9mm handguns (Picture: Royal Navy)
