OCEAN (LPH) LANDING PLATFORM HELICOPTER
 

HMS Ocean, an LPH (Landing Platform Helicopter) was built by Kvaerner Govan, on the Clyde, taking advantage of commercial build methods and facilities, before sailing for Barrow-in-Furness for fitting out prior to acceptance into service with the Royal Navy.


The hull of the ship was built to Merchant Navy standards at a cost of some £170 million.


The ship is capable of carrying an Air Group of 12 x Sea King troop lift helicopters and 6 x Lynx attack helicopters and 4 x Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel (LCVP).

The vessel’s secondary roles include afloat training, with a limited anti-submarine warfare capability and the possibility of being used as an afloat base for anti-terrorist operations.

During the 2012 Olympic Games HMS Ocean was moored on the Thames and provided essential command and security support to the security services. Currently the Royal Navy’s largest warship, in late 2012 it was announced that HMS Ocean would undergoing a comprehensive upgrade at Devonport Royal Dockyard, This upgrade will take about 15 months and cost approximately £65 million.