Did you watch the HMS Ocean documentary ‘Warship’ on Channel 4?
The show captures Britain’s biggest warship as it sails to the Gulf to lead the US Naval Combined Task Force 50.
HMS Ocean is now 20 years old and weighs up to 28,000 tons. The fleet flagship of the Royal Navy was launched into sea in October 1995 and has a capacity of 40 vehicles and 830 Marines. She is designed to support amphibious landing operations and to support the staff of Commander UK Amphibious Force and Commander UK Landing Force. The ship can carry up to six Apache AH1 helicopters operated by the Army Air Corps as well as helicopters for the RAF.
HMS 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.
HMS Ocean is described as a ‘floating village’ with a hospital, bank, gym, pubs and shops on board to accommodate its staff.
The documentary follows the ship as it embarks on its seven month deployment. This mission makes HMS Ocean the first UK ship to lead a US task force in the Middle East. 130 enthusiastic newbies are among the crew recorded and the programme shows their first seafaring adventure.
HMS Ocean is due to be decommissioned next year after twenty years of service and currently there is no replacement.
We stock the HMS Ocean Ship Crest and Cap Tally. View them here.
We also stock Royal Navy qualification badges. View them here.
