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Designed With Troops in Mind
Unlike previous LPHs (Landing Platform Helicopter), which
were converted aircraft carriers, HMS Ocean was built with
Royal marines commandos in mind.
For example, all assault routes through the ship are double
width to allow fully-kitted Royals to move with ease.
Her primary role is to carry an embarked Commando, 12 medium
support helicopters and six Lynx or Gazelle attack helicopters.
The commando force and its equipment would be landed as part
of an amphibious assault, principally by air.
However, water-bourne landings are also possible, using the
ship's four Vosper Thorycroft-built landing craft.
Vehicles and stores are loaded through a starboard quarter
ramp, like a car ferry, and Ocean's vehicle deck can take
six 105mm howitzer light funs and up to 40 assorted military
transport vehicles.
A ramp from the vehicle deck to the flight deck allows equipment
to be flown ashore by helicopter.
But when the ship is at anchor vehicles can also be unloaded
through the ship's stern ramp on to Mexiflotes, then transferred
ashore.
Ocean is powered by two Crossley-Pielstick diesel engines,
which produce 17,700 hp and give her a speed in the order
of 18 knots.
She was built in two stages, Kvaerner Govan on the River Clyde
were contracted to construct the ship herself, and she was
launched on October 11, 1995.
She then sailed under her own power to Barrow-in-Furness,
where prime contractor Vickers fitted her out.
As the first of a new generation of amphibious ships, which
will eventually include HM ships Albion and Bulwark, her home
port is Devonport.
Wooden Walls to Jet Plane Flights
The present HMS Ocean is the sixth ship to bear the name,
and has some illustrious predecessors.
The first was a 90-gun second-rate which won Battle Honours
at the two encounters with French ships off Ushant.
The second also started life as a second-rate, in 1795, but
was reclassified as a 110-gun first-rate in 1817. She spent
most of her service in the Mediterranean.
The third began as a 91-gun wooden ship, but was changed to
a 50-gun ironclad in 1861.
En route to the Far East she took the record for the longest
day's run by a British ironclad under sail of 243 miles.
Ocean number four was a Canopus-class, 12,950-ton battleship
launched in 1898.
Problems during build led to her being regarded as an unlucky
ship, and although she won hounours at the Suez Canal and
the Dardanelles in 1915, she was hit by a mine and shell,
and all hands abandoned ship hours before she sank.
The fifth Ocean was a light fleet carrier, commissioned in
June 1945. She took part in the experimental landing of the
first true jet on board a ship under way - a Vampire - and
of flying in complete darkness.
In 1946 she was involved in the rescue following the mining
of HM ships Saumarez and Volage in the Corfu Incident.
She was involved in the Korean War (her air group flew a record
of 123 sorties in one day) and later came out of the Home
Fleet Training Squadron to take an active role during the
Suez Crisis.
She sailed for scrap in 1962.
(Ship of the Month May 1999)
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