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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.
| OCEAN
LPH Specifications |
| Max Speed |
19 knots |
| Range |
8000nm at 15 knots |
| Displacement |
21,758 tons |
| Length |
203.4m/667.3ft |
|
Beam |
34m/111.5ft |
| Complement |
285 + 206 Aircrew |
| |
up to
830 Marines (Marine Commando Group) |
| Armament |
3 x Vulcan Phalanx Mk 15
Close-in Weapon Systems |
| |
8 x Oerlikon/BMARC 20mm GAM-B03
(4 twin) |
| Aircraft |
12 x Sea King HC4/Merlin Helicopters |
| |
6 x Lynx (or navalised variants
of WAH-64 Apache) |
| Military lift |
4 x LCVP Mk 5 (on davits) |
| |
2 x Griffon hovercraft |
| |
40 x vehicles |
| NAME |
DATE
COMMISSIONED |
| HMS Ocean |
1998 |
Photo Crown Copyright
ALBION CLASS (LPD)
LANDING
PLATFORM DOCKS
The contract (worth £449 million) to build the two LPDs
(Landing Platform Docks) was awarded on 18 July 1996 and first steel was
cut 17 November 1997.
There are two helicopter landing spots and the configuration includes a
well dock and stern gate together with side ramp access.
Substantial command and control facilities are included within a large
combined Operations Room.
The ships are being built to military damage control standards. Though
conceived under the previous Conservative government this class fits in
well with the current government's concept of expeditionary activities
worldwide. The UK is developing a useful amphibious capability with the
new Assault ships and other new Landing Ships coming along.
Both vessels are capable of carrying 305 troops, with an overload of a
further 405 for short periods. There is a vehicle deck capacity for up
to 6 x main battle tanks or up to 30 x armoured all-terrain vehicles. In
addition, there is a floodable well dock, with the capacity to take
either four utility landing craft (each capable of carrying a main
battle tank or shelter a hovercraft landing craft. There are 4 x smaller
landing craft on davits, each capable of carrying 35 troops.
| ALBION
CLASS (LPD) Specifications |
| Length |
176m |
| Displacement |
19,560 tons full load |
| Max Speed |
20 knots |
| Range |
8,000nm at 15 knots |
| Complement |
325 |
| Military lift |
305 troops |
| |
67 x support vehicles |
| |
4 x LCU Mk 10 or 2
LCAC (dock) |
| |
4 x LCVP Mk 5 (davits) |
| Armament |
Guns 2-20mm (twin) |
| |
2 x Goalkeeper Close-in
Weapon Systems |
| Helicopters |
Platform for 3 x
Merlin EH 101 |
| |
Chinook capable |
| NAME |
IN-SERVICE
DATE |
| HMS Albion |
2003 |
| HMS Bulwark |
2004 |
Photo Crown
Copyright
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