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Brazil buys ex-Royal Navy helicopter carrier HMS Ocean
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed on 19 February that it has sold the mothballed Royal Navy landing platform helicopter (LPH) HMS Ocean to Brazil for $117 million US.
Babcock and BAE Systems will modify the HMS Ocean ahead of its delivery to Brazil in June.
The HMS Ocean was commissioned in 1998. Since then, the Royal Navy had accumulated 450,000 nautical miles using the helicopter carrier. Under its Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) for 2015, the UK decided to de-commission the HMS Ocean.
The HMS Ocean’s naval aviation duties will be assumed by the HMS Queen Elizabeth, which will also serve as the Royal Navy’s new flagship. The HMS Queen Elizabeth was designed to maintain both rotary-wing and fixed-wing (F-35B) complements.
The HMS Ocean sale is being managed by the Defence Equipment Sales Authority under the UK MoD.
With a displacement of 22,00 tons, the HMS Ocean can carry up to 18 helicopters of varying capabilities and size, spanning from the six-ton AW159 to the 22-ton CH-47D Chinook. Designed to support amphibious operations, the LPH can also carry 40 vehicles along with a marines force of 830 troops.
The Brazilian Navy intends to deploy the HMS Ocean as an air and amphibious operations asset for a wide range of roles, including: maritime area control and sea-lane protection, humanitarian and disaster relief, logistics support and peacekeeping operations.
Besides Brazil, Turkey was among the countries reportedly interested in the HMS Ocean, ostensibly as an interim training solution ahead of its first new-built landing helicopter deck (LHD), the TCG Anadolu.
11 Comments
by Faisal Jawaid
what are prospect of Pakistan operating helicopter carrier?
what roles it can fullfil? especially in context of eastern threats.
by Bilal Khan
Currently, the Pakistan Navy has no plans for long-range expeditionary capabilities (e.g. LHD, LPH, etc).
by Steve
We have had underinvestment in the Navy for 30 years. We need to get our priorities right especially with Gwader to defend, and can’t outsource everything to the Chinese. Once the surface fleet is replenished with 4 MILGEM and 4 Type 054A (or 057 if we are lucky), there is a case to be made for a Mistral type amphibious assault ship/helicopter carrier in the 2025-30 timeframe. As we become a middle income country armed with nuclear weapons our regional foreign policy will need some ability to project power and for humanitarian issues like tsunami etc. Need to sell more stuff in Africa and the IOR unless we have given up on every ambition and want to become a corrupt banana republic ruled by hereditary incompetent elites. Egypt is buying them why can’t we? We just pray the navy thinks big and don’t go for micro ships. Or is there no long term planning at all!?
by Joseph
Good for Brazil, this could become the new flag ship of their navy. They just need to buy 18 or so helicopters to fill it up.
I always thought £80 million is kind of on the cheap side since HMS Ocean has undergone a £65 million upgrade in 2014, but in the end that is the price it is sold (around £84 million).
To think of it 2 ~ 3 helicopters could cost more than the ship if Pakinstan’s T129 deal is any guide.
by Shreyansh Rattra
Dude i highly doubt the same price to be offfered to pakistan,secondly 18 helicopters aint 1 kg tomatoes it costs a lot ! with equipment and all hidden coss like mantinence and beefing up its defences ! You said it might be a flagship if it was in for PN how would you have made its escort fleet ? and if so with those zufilqars and agostas what would have been back saving the ports ?
Situation for brazil and Pakistan are different there aint India on the map around brazil,but to pakistan and thats just a bad dream for PN
by Shreyansh Rattra
Yeah but Mistrals ? given defense budget floating around 7-8 Bn$ buying a 2 bn$ warship with planes equipment (that might raise the cost) is it a wise idea where there already lies rusting sub modern surface fleet with dud air defense capabilities and limited offense.
Seriously get the priorities right mate.
by ahmria
Egypt is in an even worse state than Pakistan. All their current purchases like the Rafale jets, Mistral LPD and Fremm frigates and Gowind corvettes from France has pretty much been bought for them by the Saudis on the understanding that the Egyptians are expected to aid them militarily should the need arise.
by ahmria
Pakistan I think needs to be able to secure its own coastline and economic area before we start think about expeditionary and true blue water capabilities.
by Joseph
Pakistan was not in the running for this particular ship. Brazil and Turkey were the interested parties. I guess Brazil wanted it a bit more.
Turkey has a larger navy force, having a light carrier in the near future is not out of question, especially since Turkey bought F-35, so I think a lot people thought this could be a step in the right direction for Turkish navy.
This ship could be much more valuable in hands of Turkey. Equipped with about 15 F-35B, this could become a really powerful ship. A game changer for Turkish navy. I was surprised Turkey did not get it.
by Steve
Why don’t we get the same? We have done a lot for the Saudis I think, including sending a large force to them recently…if rumours are to be believed. Oh I forgot, our Saudi relations were being run by Mujhi Kyoon Nikala, and he prefers cash to weapons for PA. Lol
by Steve
Read the whole post before sounding off “mate”. I said AFTER we replenish surface fleet. Oh well…