HMS Ocean (L12)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Ocean.

HMS Ocean during Operation Ellamy and the 2011 military

intervention in Libya.

History

United Kingdom
Name:

HMS Ocean

Operator:

Royal Navy

Ordered:

11 May 1993

Builder:

Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering

Ltd, Kvrner (Govan)

Laid down:

30 May 1994

Launched:

11 October 1995

Sponsored by:

Queen Elizabeth II of the United

Kingdom

Commissioned:

30 September 1998

Refit:

Major 20122014

Homeport:

HMNB Devonport, Plymouth

Motto:

Ex undis surgit victoria

Nickname(s):

"The Mighty O"

Honours and

Ushant 1781

awards:
Mesopotamia 1914
Dardannels 1915
Suez Canal 1915
Korea 195253
Al Faw 2003
Status:

Active

Badge:

General characteristics
Class and type:

Landing Platform Helicopter

Displacement:

21,500 t (21,200 long tons; 23,700 short

tons)[1]

Length:

203.4 m (667 ft)[2]

Beam:

35 m (115 ft)[2]

Draught:

6.5 m (21 ft)[2]

Propulsion:

Two Crossley Pielstick V12 diesel

engines
Speed:
15 knots (17 mph; 28 km/h)
cruise
18 knots (21 mph; 33 km/h)
max[3]
Range:

8,000 miles (7,000 nmi; 13,000 km)

Boats & landing

1 Seaboat (Pacific 22 Mk2)

craft carried:

4 LCVP Mk5B
Capacity:

40 vehicles[2]

Troops:

830 Royal Marines[2]

Crew:

285 + 180 FAA/RAF[2]

Sensors and
Type 997 Artisan 3D Radar

processing systems:

Type 1008 Navigational Radar

2 Type 1007 Aircraft Control
Radar
Electronic warfare
UAT Electronic Support

& decoys:
Measures

DLH decoy Launchers

Surface Ship Torpedo Defence
(SSTD)
Armament:
4 30mm DS30M Mk2 guns
3 Phalanx CIWS

4 Miniguns
8 General purpose machine
guns
Aircraft carried:
Up-to 18 helicopters:
Westland Sea King
Westland Lynx
AgustaWestland AW159
Wildcat
Merlin
Boeing Chinook
Westland Apache
Aviation facilities:
Large flight deck
Hangar deck
Helicopter lifts
Vehicle deck

HMS Ocean is an amphibious assault ship, the Royal Navy's sole Landing Platform Helicopter and
the fleet flagship of the Royal Navy.[4] She is designed to support amphibious landing operations and
to support the staff of Commander UK Amphibious Force and Commander UK Landing Force. She
was constructed in the mid-1990s by Kvaerner Govan on the River Clyde and fitted out
by VSEL at Barrow-in-Furness prior to trials and subsequent acceptance in service. She was
commissioned in September 1998 at her home port HMNB Devonport, Plymouth.
Contents
[hide]

1Background

2Role

3Operational history

4Commanding Officers

5Affiliations

6See also

7Notes and references

8External links

Background[edit]
An invitation to tender for a new helicopter carrier was issued in February 1992.[5] In February
1993 The Times reported that the carrier faced cancellation due to budgetary constraints. [6] However,
at approximately the same time, British forces were engaged in operations in the Balkans, which
saw the Royal Fleet Auxiliary's aviation training ship RFA Argus pressed into service as an Landing
Platform Helicopter (LPH). Argus proved totally unsuitable in terms of accommodation and facilities
needed for a large Embarked Military Force (EMF), which emphasised the need for a purpose built
platform.[3] On 29 March 1993, the defence procurement minister announced that development of the
new LPH was proceeding.[7] Two shipbuilders competed for the contract Vickers Shipbuilding and
Engineering Ltd (VSEL) and Swan Hunter. On 11 May 1993, the government announced that VSEL
had won the contract.[8] The build was to commercial standards, reducing costs significantly and
leading to a construction spend of 154 million (283 million in 2015),[9], comparable to that of a Type
23 frigate. VSEL, a warship manufacturer, sub-contracted the build phase to the commercial
Kvrner yard in Govan, Glasgow.
The fact that VSEL's bid was 71 million lower than Swan Hunter's was the source of political
controversy and led to a National Audit Office investigation to determine whether the competition
was fair. The report, published on 29 July 1993, stated that, although VSEL did subsidise its bid, the
MoD was right to award the contract to VSEL because the subsidy was much smaller than the
difference between the two bids; VSEL's bid was 139.5 million compared to Swan Hunter's
210.6 million. The Times also suggested that the subsidy was as little as 10 million.[10] In
anticipation of the report, the Financial Times described the different philosophies adopted by the
two bidders; while Swan Hunter viewed the ships as entirely military, "VSEL thought the design was
basically a merchant ship with military hardware bolted on." VSEL's decision to sub-contract the
build phase took advantage of lower overheads at a civilian yard as well as efficiency drives by its
parent, Kvrner.[11]
Launched on 11 October 1995, she was subsequently named at Barrow by Her Majesty the
Queen on 20 February 1998, prior to delivery to Devonport. In her sea trial, she managed to reach a
top speed of 20.6 knots (38.2 km/h; 23.7 mph); however, her usual top speed is 18 knots (33 km/h;
21 mph).[12]

Role[edit]
Ocean was designed to provide the amphibious assault capabilities last offered
by Albion and Bulwark whilst in the Commando role. She can deploy an Embarked Military
Force (EMF) of a Royal Marines Commando Group from 3 Commando Brigade supported by
aviation and landing craft assets. The ship's company includes 9 Assault Squadron (9 ASRM) from 1
Assault Group Royal Marines whose primary role is as an Amphibious Assault Squadron. Secondary
tasks include boarding parties, beach reconnaissance and providing amphibious knowledge to the

ships Command. Besides these roles they have responsibilities within the ship which include fire
fighting, watch keeping and security. 9 ASRM is divided into a HQ unit, Landing Craft Troop, Signals
detachment, Vehicle Deck Party and Assault Supply Team. [13]
HMS Ocean is also capable of limited anti-submarine warfare activities, supporting afloat training
and acting as a base facility for other embarked forces includingcounter-terrorism units.
The air group of up to six Sea King HC4 medium-lift helicopters and six Lynx AH7 light-lift/anti-tank
helicopters are provided by the Commando Helicopter Force, four-six Apache AH1 operated by
the Army Air Corps and helicopters of the Royal Air Force, including the Chinook. Prior to their
retirement, Ocean could transport up to 15 fixed wing Harrier[14] aircraft of Joint Force Harrier in the
ferry role, but was unable to operate as a fixed wing aircraft carrier due to her lack of the 'ski jump'
that is needed to launch a fully loaded Harrier.
For the 2012 London Olympics, she carried an air arm of eight Army Air Corps and Fleet Air
Arm Super Lynx helicopters, four from each service, to deploy special forces and conduct other
missions in relation to her security role.[15]
Four Landing Craft Vehicle and Personnel (LCVPs) are permanently embarked and manned by 9
Assault Squadron Royal Marines.[16]

Operational history[edit]

US Marines ride the forward aircraft lift intoOcean's hangar deck during an exercise in 1999.

Just weeks after being commissioned, Ocean was undertaking the warm water element of her firstof-class trials, when she was deployed on short notice to the coasts of Honduras and Nicaragua to
provide humanitarian assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch.[17] In early 1999, Ocean was
scheduled to take part in an exercise in the Atlantic, but was diverted to the Mediterranean in
readiness for possible deployment to Kosovo.[18]
During 2000, Ocean supported Operation Palliser in Sierra Leone, joining Illustrious in aiding the
suppression of rebel activity with her own EMF and providing support facilities for the Spearhead
battalion ashore.[19]
On 17 February 2002, a unit of Royal Marines from Ocean accidentally landed on the San Felipe
beach in the Spanish town of La Linea instead of Gibraltar, causing a minor diplomatic incident as
various media outlets labelled the mistake as an "invasion". [20]
Ocean was part of a large Royal Navy task force deployed for Operation Telic, the UK contribution to
the 2003 Iraq War, for which she was awarded a new battle honour "Al Faw 2003".[21] In the
helicopter assault role she was accompanied by Ark Royal.

In the summer of 2006, she was deployed as part of the task force involved in the Aurora exercises
on the eastern seaboard of the United States.
In 2007, Ocean began her first long refit period. This was carried out by Devonport Management
Limited at their Devonport Royal Dockyard facility and lasted around 12 months, during which
period Ark Royal took over the LPH role. Ocean sailed from Plymouth on Wednesday 24 September
2008 to start sea trials, following this major period of maintenance and upgrading work. [22] As part of
that upgrade, a PyTECpyrolysising waste recycling unit was fitted.[23]
On 18 February 2009, Ocean sailed from Devonport as part of the Taurus 09 deployment under
Commander UK Amphibious Task Group, Commodore Peter Hudson. She was joined on this
deployment by the landing platform dock Bulwark, as Hudson's flagship, Type 23
Frigates Argyll and Somerset and four ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.[24] This exercise was filmed
for the second series of the Channel 5 documentary Warship.

HMS Ocean showing landing craft on davits and stern ramp deployed

In June 2009, she took part in exercise Bersama Shield with Somerset and RFA Wave Ruler off
the Malay Peninsula.[25]
During the air travel disruption after the 2010 Eyjafjallajkull eruption, Prime Minister Gordon
Brown assigned Oceanand other units to rescue stranded travellers and army personnel across
the English Channel in Operation Cunningham.[26]
In 2010, she was deployed on a multi-purpose deployment. This started with exercise Auriga on the
eastern coast of the USA.[27] She then moved to Brazil to conduct an exercise with the Brazilian
marines, whilst there a defence co-operation agreement was signed on board. [28] She then crossed
the Atlantic heading for Nigeria to both participate in the Nigeria at 50 presidential fleet review and
capacity building with the Nigerian navy as part of the African partnership programme. [29][30] She
returned to Devonport in November.[31]
In April 2011, she was deployed as the follow on ship for the RN's Response Force Task
Group (RFTG) COUGAR 11 deployment. During this deployment, she took part in Exercise Cypriot
Lion[32]
In May 2011, she was detached from the COUGAR 11 deployment of the Response Force Task
Group and sent with embarked Apaches to aid operations in Libya along with the attack helicopters
aboard the French amphibious assault ship Tonnerre.[33][34][35] This marks the first time that Apache
helicopters have been sent into action from a Royal Navy ship. [36] Her initial complement of three
Apaches was bolstered by a fourth soon after,[37] and later a fifth.[38] The deployment included a large
medical team, a sign of the ship's flexibility.[39]
On 4 May 2012, she moored at Greenwich to prepare for her role of providing logistics support,
accommodation and a helicopter landing site during the London 2012 Olympic Games.[40] From 24 to
28 May 2012, she visited Sunderland, her affiliated port, and made other port calls[41] before returning
to London on 13 July.[42] After Olympic duty, Ocean returned to her home port of HMNB Devonport for
a scheduled period of maintenance.[43] The LPH role was provided by HMS Illustrious until 2014. On
22 July 2014, HMS Ocean took over the helicopter carrier role again, after its 15-month, $98 million
refit, replacing HMS Illustrious, which then returned to its home port Portsmouth for a final time,

being decommissioned on 28 August 2014. As part of the Response Force Task Group COUGAR 14
deployment, Ocean has participated in exercises off Albania and France. [44][45]
Apache and Chinook train onOcean in November 2014 following her refit

Ocean in mid 2015 took part in Joint warrior 15 (JW15) around the coast of Scotland on this trip she
stopped in her affiliated town of Sunderland where the ship's company exercised the freedom of the
city.
Ocean became the Royal Navy Fleet Flagship in June 2015.[4][46]
On 24 November 2015, the MoD confirmed that HMS Ocean is to be decommissioned in 2018 as
part of cost saving measures with no like-for-like replacement.[47] Under the 2015 Strategic Defence
Review, one of two 65,000-ton Queen Elizabeth-class carriers now being assembled
at Rosyth, HMS Prince of Wales, would be enhanced with the addition of new systems to support
Royal Marine amphibious operations. However, current plans do not envisage both carriers
operating at the same time except in an emergency.[48] In December 2015, she returned to port late
after Ex COUGAR 15.[49]

Commanding Officers[edit]

HMS Ocean deployed for the Olympic Games.

19971999: Captain Robert Turner RN

19992001: Captain Scott Lidbetter RN

20012003: Captain Adrian Johns RN

20032004: Captain Christopher Clayton RN

20042005: Captain Anthony Johnstone-Burt RN

20052006: Captain Christopher Snow RN

20062008: Captain Russell Harding RN

20082010: Captain Simon Kings RN

20102011: Captain Keith Blount RN

20112013: Captain Andrew Betton RN

2013: Commander Paul Pitcher RN (Refit Commanding Officer)

2013: Commander Tim Geary RN (Senior Naval Officer*)

2013: Commander Tony Rackham RN (Refit Commanding Officer)

20132015: Captain Timothy Henry RN

2015 present: Captain Stephen Moorhouse OBE RN

* The Senior Naval Officer is an engineering officer responsible for overseeing the ship's refit period

Affiliations[edit]

HMS Ocean (centre right) in a five-country multinational fleet, duringOperation Enduring Freedom in theOman
Sea.

Coldstream Guards

No. 27 Squadron RAF (Odiham)

No. 30 Squadron RAF

656 Squadron, Army Air Corps

657 Squadron, Army Air Corps

Worshipful Company of Farriers

City of Sunderland

Bedford Modern School CCF

Whitgift School

The Britannia Association

HMS OCEAN Association

Duke of York Military School

Kings College Wimbledon CCF

Training Ship King Alfred

Merton Sea Cadet Corps- T.S. Trafalgar

11th Torbay Sea Scouts

6th Torbay Sea Scouts