HMS Ocean (L12)
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| Career United Kingdom |  |
|---|---|
| Ordered: | 11 May 1993 |
| Builder: | Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd |
| Laid down: | 30 May 1994 |
| Launched: | 11 October 1995 |
| Commissioned: | 30 September 1998 |
| Status: | Active |
| Homeport: | HMNB Devonport, Plymouth |
| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 21,578 tons |
| Length: | 208 m |
| Beam: | 34.4 m |
| Draught: | 6.6 m |
| Propulsion: | 2 × Crossley Pielstick diesel engines 1 × Kamewa bow thruster |
| Speed: | 18 knots max (15 knots cruise) |
| Range: | 8000 miles |
| Capacity: | 800 Royal Marines and equipment |
| Complement: | 284 officers and crew + 206 Fleet Air Arm |
| Sensors and processing systems: | Radar 996 and Radar 1007 |
| Electronic warfare and decoys: | UAT Electronic Support Measures |
| Armament: | 3 x Phalanx CIWS |
| Aircraft carried: | Up to 18 helicopters (typically Westland Commando and Lynx but also Merlins, Boeing Chinooks), capable of carrying (but not operating) up to 15 VTOL aircraft such as RAF Harrier II |
The sixth HMS Ocean (L12) of the Royal Navy is a Landing Platform, Helicopter carrier, the only one in its class. It was built during the early part of the 1990s by Kvaerner Govan on the Clyde, taking advantage of commercial build methods and facilities, before sailing to Barrow-in-Furness for fitting out prior to acceptance into service with the Royal Navy. She is based on the Invincible class aircraft carrier design, but due to the commercial build used, the construction cost of £154 million is comparable to that of a Type 23 frigate.
The prime contractor for Ocean was Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd (VSEL) but the ship was built at Govan shipyard, Glasgow. She was launched on 11 October 1995, and named by Her Majesty the Queen on 20 February 1998, prior to the delivery voyage to her base port of Devonport.
She was commissioned on 30 September 1998, and completed her trials programme and initial Basic Operational Sea Training in the spring of 1999. While Ocean was undertaking first-of-class trials, she was called to Honduras to give humanitarian assistance following a hurricane.
Ocean was designed to provide the amphibious assault capabilities last offered by HMS Albion and Bulwark, carrying an Embarked Military Force (EMF) supported by 12 Sea King HC-4 medium-lift helicopters, six Lynx AH-7 light-lift/anti-Tank helicopters, and four Mk5 landing craft, operated by the permanently-embarked 9 Assault Squadron Royal Marines. Her secondary roles included afloat training, limited anti-submarine warfare, and providing a base for anti-terrorist operations.
Prior to Ocean's availability, the Invincible-class aircraft carriers had been required to support the helicopter-assault mission. Ocean freed them to concentrate on the role for which they were designed. During 2002, the ship played a major role in suppressing rebel activity in Sierra Leone, acting as a base for Boeing CH-47 Chinooks of the RAF.
Ocean was part of a large Royal Navy taskforce deployed for Operation Telic, the UK contribution to the 2003 Iraq War. In the helicopter assault role she was accompanied by HMS Ark Royal.
During the summer of 2004, trials were conducted operating an Apache AH Mk 1 from Ocean, to enable the Army's new attack helicopter to eventually operate afloat.
On 21 March 2007, Ocean left Devonport for a 4 month tour of the Caribbean, starting with a visit to Norfolk, Virginia as the star of the Azalea Festival.
In 2007, Ocean will begin her first long refit, with her role as the fleet's LPH taken up by Ark Royal on that ship's recommissioning.
HMS Ocean is the adopted ship of the City of Sunderland.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- HMS Ocean at the Royal Navy site
- HMS Ocean at the naval-technology.com site
- HMS Ocean at the navynews.co.uk site
- HMS Ocean, Navy Matters
