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The stamp depicts a Westland Merlin helicopter and HMS LANCASTER.

In 2002 HMS LANCASTER was designated as the operational flight trials ship for the Merlin and as such became the first frigate to deploy operationally with one. During this deployment the ship visited many countries and experienced many climates from tropical heat to the frozen Antarctic.
The Merlin was found to be extremely reliable in all conditions and as part of the Antarctic trials HMS LANCASTER Merlin became the first of its type to fly over South Georgia.

Built as a guided-missile frigate under yard No 1036 by Yarrow Shipbuilders, Scotstoun, Scotland for the Royal Navy.
18 December 1987 keel laid down.
24 May 1990 launched as the HMS LANCASTER (F229) the launching ceremony was performed by HM the Queen. She is one of the Duke Class Type 23 frigate.
Displacement 3.500 standard, 4.200 tons full load, dim. 133 x 16.1 x 7.3m. (draught)
Powered by four CODLAG (Combined Diesel electric and gas), with four Paxman Valenta 12CM diesels, 2.025hp. powering two GE electric motors delivering 4.000shp.
Two Rolls-Royce Spey SM1A gas turbines, 31.100 shp., twin shafts, speed 28 knots.
Range by a speed of 15 knots, 9.000 miles.
Armament: 2 quadruple launchers for eight Harpoon SSM. 2 GWS 26 VLS for 32 Sea Wolf SAMs.
1 – 114mm Mk 8 DP gun. 2 – DS 30B 30mm AA guns and 2 - 324mm torpedo tubes for Stingray torpedoes.
One helicopter.
Crew 185.
01 May 1992 commissioned.

Her early appointments were to the West Indies and Falkland Islands as Guardship.
Then a unit of the NATO Standing Naval Force Atlantic.
After her first major refit in Devonport was she deployed in the Arabian Gulf on Operation Resinate in 2001.
01 July 2001 she returned in the UK before heading again to the Falkland Islands as Guardship.
When there she was used in a ceremony involving families of those who perished in the sea during the Falkland Campaign in 1982.
2006 Underwent again a refit.
After the refit deployed in the Caribbean where she joined forces with USA Coastguard in the fight against illegal drug trafficking across the Caribbean.
2007 Patrolling the U.K. waters conducting various exercises and operated together with other naval ships from all of the world.
2009 In service.

South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands 2009 £1.10, sg?, scott?

Source: http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations- ... r/history/ The Encyclopedia of Warships, and other internet sites.

In September 2010 LANCASTER entered refit in Portsmouth.

2011 – present
LANCASTER returned to sea in early 2012 and returned to active service in spring 2013. The £17.9m contract covered upgrades to communications, the Sea Wolf and command systems, the installation of a 30mm remote-operated gun and a transom flap. Both shafts were replaced, four refurbished diesel generators installed and new paint applied to the hull. The accommodation, galley and dining halls were all refurbished at the same time. Half the crew returned to the ship in October 2011, under the command of Lt Cdr Charlie Guy until Cdr Steve Moorhouse takes over in November 2011. Although the top speed of the Duke class is commonly quoted as 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph), the caption of an official Navy photo suggests that LANCASTER was capable of 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph) even before her mid-life refit; the transom flap can add up to 1 knot (1.9 km/h; 1.2 mph) to the top speed of a Type 23, and the Intersleek anti-fouling paint added 2 knots (3.7 km/h; 2.3 mph) to the top speed of ARK ROYA. In July to August 2013, she was on a counter-narcotics mission in the Caribbean, seizing a massive 680 kg haul of cocaine with an estimated street value of £100 million after sailors and an embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment boarded a speedboat near Puerto Rico.
On 23 March 2015, LANCASTER became the first ship in the Royal Navy to deploy with the navy's new uniform and Wildcat helicopter.
The crew of the LANCASTER gathered on the deck of the vessel to spell the word sister, as a present from the Royal Navy, on the birth of Princess Charlotte of Cambridge on 2 May 2015.
Between 12 and 16 October 2015 LANCASTER and RFA GOLD ROVER participated the bicentennial anniversary commemorations of Napoleon's arrival on Saint Helena after his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, and subsequent surrender to British forces.
In 2015, the ship visited Algiers for three days for official receptions and a short spell of training with ships in the Algerian Navy, including the Algerian amphibious transport dock KALAAT BÉNI ABBÉS. She arrived back in the UK on 17 December 2015.
Upon her return to the UK, LANCASTER entered a period of "extended readiness" in Portsmouth awaiting refit in 2017. LANCASTER departed Portsmouth on 31 March 2017 under tow for Plymouth.
2018 Alongside Plymouth under refit.

Source: Wikipedia.

Tristan da Cunha issued four stamps in 2018 for Royal Navy ships visiting the island.

HMS LANCASTER (F229) is the 4th Type 23 frigate in the Duke class. In August 2015 she visited Tristan together with RFA GOLD ROVER and were able to help the islanders carry out two years’ work in just a few days. The visit was exceptionally busy for both vessels, especially for Lancaster’s Wildcat helicopter and crew, who flew essential stores around the island to remote areas.

In total both ships helped islanders lift and shift equipment and supplies that would have taken two years of manual work and the island’s administrator, Alex Mitham, thanked both ships for the reassurance that their presence brought and highlighted his admiration for what was achieved in such a short time.

Source: http://www.pobjoystamps.com/contents/en ... Ships.html
Tristan da Cunha 2018 55p sg?, scott?