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Turkey reportedly interested in helicopter carrier HMS Ocean
Naval Today reports that the Turkish government is interested in buying the helicopter carrier HMS Ocean, which is due for decommissioning from the Royal Navy.
As a landing helicopter dock (LHD), the HMS Ocean can carry up to 40 vehicles and 830 troops. In terms of helicopters, it can support up to 18 aircraft, from heavyweight platforms such as the Chinook and Merlin to lightweight anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters such as the AW159.
Commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1998, the HMS Ocean was slotted for retirement by the U.K. without a direct replacement. Having reportedly drawn interest from Brazil and Turkey, the HMS Ocean is being offered for a relatively low upfront price of £80 million.
Turkey is also in the process of constructing its own LHD – to be christened TCG Anadolu – with support from the Spanish shipbuilder Navantia. The TCG Anadolu had its steel-cutting ceremony occurred in May 2016, with delivery due to the Turkish Navy for 2021.
Notes & Comments:
If acquired, the HMS Ocean could both inject expeditionary capabilities to the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) as well as provide a training platform for the forthcoming TCG Anadolu. The TSK could look to deploy its T129 ATAK attack helicopter, CH-47F heavy-lift helicopter, S-70 Seahawk naval helicopters, various light armoured vehicles and amphibious infantry fighting vehicles onboard the HMS Ocean.
Although Turkey’s immediate geo-strategic environment – i.e. the Mediterranean Sea – necessitates amphibious assets, Ankara has broadened its security engagements to include the Middle East and Africa.
For example, Turkey has established a military base in Mogadishu, Somalia to train the local forces of that country. With the HMS Ocean, Turkey could remotely deploy aviation assets to those bases without having to build extensive infrastructure on-land and/or deploy integrated infantry, armour and aviation forces. Overall, LHDs would be a valuable means to connect and support overseas bases.
6 Comments
by Shariq Shakil
80 Million $ why Pakistan is not opting this.
by Yavuz Selim
Pakistani have no need helicopter carrier
by Joseph
Navy warships usually have a service life about 25 years. This ship has maybe 5 years left.
Just about when you finished training your navy to use it then it has to be retired.
Unless Pakistan is also planning to operate it’s own light carrier and trying to get some experience, it is hardly worth it.
by TZK
This has had an extensive refit recently and would probably be ideal for disaster relief in addition to any military use given that Turkey is in an earthquake zone.
by Nate
What he said.
Theres a difference between a ship thats spent its life plying the Mediterranean and British naval assets, which get torn to pieces cruising the Atlantic. They wear out. No amount of money can make a worn out ship sea worthy.
by Joseph
Indeed, it turns out the ship undergone a £65 million refit in 2014. It’s life could have been extended. The refit alone could make it a bargain.
Why UK selling it at close to refit price is puzzling. Maybe like a new car, losing half the value as soon as driven off the lot.