HMS Ocean (L12)

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

Career (UK)
HMS Ocean (L12)
Name:	HMS Ocean
Operator:	Royal Navy
Ordered:	11 May 1993
Builder:	Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd, Kværner (Govan)
Laid down:	30 May 1994
Launched:	11 October 1995
Commissioned:	30 September 1998
Homeport:	HMNB Devonport, Plymouth
Fate:	Currently undergoing a major refit.
General characteristics
Class and type:	'Ocean'-class Landing Platform, Helicopter
Displacement:	21,578 tons
Length:	208 m (682 ft 3 in)
Beam:	34.4 m (112 ft 10 in)
Draught:	6.6 m (21 ft 8 in)
Propulsion:	2 × Crossley Pielstick diesel engines 1 × Kamewa bow thruster
Speed:	15 knots (28 km/h) cruise 18 knots (33 km/h) max
Range:	8,000 miles
Capacity:	800 Royal Marines and equipment
Complement:	284 officers and crew + 206 Fleet Air Arm
Sensors and processing systems:	Radar 996 Radar 1007
Electronic warfare and decoys:	UAT Electronic Support Measures
Armament:	3 × Phalanx CIWS
Aircraft carried:	Up to 18 helicopters (typically Westland Commando and Lynx but also Merlins, Boeing Chinooks, Westland Apache), capable of carrying (but not operating) up to 15 VTOL aircraft such as RAF Harrier II

HMS Ocean (centre right) in a 5-country multinational fleet, during Operation Enduring Freedom in the Oman Sea.

HMS Ocean (L12) of the Royal Navy is an Amphibious assault ship, the only one in her class. 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 Ltd on the Clyde and fitted out at Barrow-in-Furness prior to first of class trials and subsequent acceptance in service. She was commissioned in September 1998 at her home port Devonport, Plymouth, Devon.

1 History
- 1.1 Service history
2 Role
3 Aviation
4 Affiliations
5 References
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] History

An invitation to tender for a new helicopter carrier was issued in February 1992.^[1] In February 1993 The Times reported that the carrier faced cancellation due to budgetary constraints.^[2] However on 29 March 1993 the defence procurement minister announced that development of the carrier was proceeding.^[3]

Two shipbuilders competed for the contract - Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd (VSEL) and Swan Hunter. On 11 May 1993 the government announced VSEL had won the contract.^[4] The build was to commercial standards, reducing costs significantly and leading to a construction spend of £154 million, comparable to that of a Type 23 frigate. VSEL, a warship manufacturer, sub-contracted the build phase to the commercial Kværner 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 lead 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.^[5] 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, Kværner.^[6]

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.

[edit] Service history

While Ocean was undertaking the warm water element of her first-of-class trials, she provided humanitarian assistance in Honduras following Hurricane Mitch.

During 2002 Ocean supported Operation Palliser in Sierra Leone, joining HMS Illustrious aiding the suppression of rebel activity with her own EMF and providing support facilities for the Spearhead battalion ashore.

Ocean was part of a large Royal Navy task force deployed for Operation Telic, the UK contribution to the 2003 Iraq War. In the helicopter assault role she was accompanied by HMS Ark Royal.

In 2007, Ocean began her first long refit period. This is being carried out by Devonport Management Limited at their Devonport Royal Dockyard facility and will last around 12 months. During this period, Ark Royal has taken over the LPH role.

[edit] Role

US Marines ride an elevator into HMS Ocean's hangar deck during an exercise in 1999

Ocean was designed to provide the amphibious assault capabilities last offered by HMS 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 ships company includes 9 Assault Squadron from 1 Assault Group Royal Marines.

Ocean is also capable of limited Anti-Submarine Warfare activities, supporting afloat training and acting as a base facility for other embarked forces including Counter-terrorism units.

[edit] Aviation

The air group of up to 12 Sea King HC-4 medium-lift helicopters, 6 Lynx AH-7 light-lift/anti-Tank helicopters, and 4 Mk5 landing craft is provided by the Commando Helicopter Force however she can also support the Westland WAH-64 Apache operated by the Army Air Corps and helicopters of the Royal Air Force including the Chinook.

Ocean can transport up to fifteen fixed wing Harrier aircraft of Joint Force Harrier in the ferry role, but is unable to operate as a fixed wing aircraft carrier.

[edit] Affiliations

[edit] References

^ Fairhill, David. "£500 million to be spent on new assault vessels", The Times, Times Newspapers, 1992-02-14, p. 15. Retrieved on 2007-07-27.
^ Evans, Michael. "Spending axe falls on £170m carrier", The Times, Times Newspapers, 1993-02-03. Retrieved on 2007-07-27.
^ White, David; Tighe, Chris. "MoD revives £170m helicopter carrier plan", Financial Times, 1993-03-30, p. 15. Retrieved on 2007-07-27.
^ Duce, Richard. "Barrow ship order dismays Tyneside", The Times, Times Newspapers, 1993-05-12. Retrieved on 2007-07-27.
^ Tighe, Chris; Green, Daniel. "VSEL subsidised Navy ship bid", The Times, Times Newspapers, 1993-06-30, p. 7. Retrieved on 2007-07-27.
^ Green, Daniel. "Strategy to win a sea battle: How a civilian shipyard helped VSEL cut costs and gain a Royal Navy order", Financial Times, 1993-07-21. Retrieved on 2007-07-27.