Commander Simon Kelly today took command of HMS Westminster, the Portsmouth based Type 23 Frigate.
In a short ceremony, Cdr Kelly assumed command from Lieutenant Commander Chris L’Amie, the Senior Naval Officer, who has lead HMS Westminster through her maintenance period.
Lt Cdr L’Amie remains with the Ship as the Executive Officer and Cdr Kelly’s Second in Command.
The ceremony took place on the decks of HMS Victory, in her day at the cutting edge of warship design.
Two and a half centuries later, HMS Westminster follows in similar footsteps, now recovering from an extensive maintenance period, that has seen the installation of a brand new missile system, an upgraded combat computer and the updated search radar.
The ship is now the Royal Navy’s most advanced submarine hunter.
On assuming Command, Cdr Kelly recognised the progress the Ship had made during the course of the maintenance period, “The impressive progress made so far in preparing HMS Westminster to return to sea is testament to the combined efforts of the Ship’s Company and BAE, our industrial partner.
"More work lays ahead, but Westminster is in an excellent position to return to the Fleet next year as the Royal Navy’s most capable frigate."
Having already commanded both Sandown and Hunt class ships, Cdr Kelly is familiar with the opportunities that lay ahead for the Ship, “As a submarine hunting specialist, Westminster will undertake a period of sea trials and training to bring the Ship, the combat system and the crew together as an effective fighting unit.
"Once trained, we look forward to deploying to UK territorial waters and into the North Sea to deter any submarine threat.
"This is the area that Ship was designed to operate in and in which our previous namesake has won battle honours."
