Ocean waves farewell to UK Royal Navy service
The UK Royal Navy’s former helicopter carrier HMS Ocean was decommissioned in a ceremony at Devonport naval base on 27 March, bringing an end to 20 years of service.
However, the vessel will transfer into service with the Brazilian Navy, continuing a long tradition of warship sales between the UK and Brazil.
Previous vessel types that have moved between the two countries include the Type 21 frigates and a variant of what would become the River-class Batch II OPVs.
Brazil’s previous flattop São Paulo, formerly the French Navy carrier Foch, was decommissioned in 2017 after 54 years of combined service.
The sale of Ocean to Brazil was confirmed by the UK MoD this year in a deal worth around £84 million ($118 million).
Displacing around 21,000t the vessel, designated a landing platform helicopter (LPH), was built mainly to commercial standards, seeing service in the UK’s support of the 2003 invasion of Iraq and 2011 aerial campaign against Libya.
A rotary wing flypast comprising Wildcat, Merlin, Sea King and Chinook helicopters marked the end of Ocean's UK service, with the vessel scheduled to undergo a maintenance period before departure for Brazil by the end of the year.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![EU SEACURE programme seeks autonomous solutions to evolving underwater threats]()
EU SEACURE programme seeks autonomous solutions to evolving underwater threats
The EU and leading defence firms are collaborating on improving autonomous seabed warfare capabilities.
-
![Malaysia’s Maharaja Lela frigates to fit SEA’s Torpedo Launcher System]()
Malaysia’s Maharaja Lela frigates to fit SEA’s Torpedo Launcher System
The TLS is expected to improve the vessels’ anti-submarine warfare performance in Malaysia’s littoral region.
-
![New contract enhances local building commitment of Colombia’s PES frigate programme]()
New contract enhances local building commitment of Colombia’s PES frigate programme
Damen Naval has signed a contract with Heinen & Hopman, which will use local Colombian HVAC-R experts to fit out the fleet.
-
![Anduril awarded $642 million counter-drone contract with US Marine Corps]()
Anduril awarded $642 million counter-drone contract with US Marine Corps
The contract will see counter-small uncrewed aerial systems (CsUAS) installed at bases, with the initial contract covering site survey and engineering services as well as some system procurement. Work is expected to be completed over the next ten years.
