HMS Ocean| Royal Navy

Current Location

Sunderland

13:20 GMT - 23 May 2012

Home waters
Follow the story
Current Location

South Atlantic

10:31 GMT - 25 May 2012

South Atlantic
Follow the story
Current Location

Mediterranean Sea

13:16 GMT - 24 May 2012

Cougar
Follow the story
Current Location

Indian Ocean

10:49 GMT - 24 May 2012

East of Suez
Follow the story
Current Location

London

14:17 GMT - 21 May 2012

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee
Follow the story

VIEW FLEET BY:

LAND SEA AIR

View Vessel Global Deployment Zoom In Zoom Out Max

Latest News

prev next

Top Breaking Stories
Also in the news

VIEW BY VESSEL

SORT BY:

Show vessel on map > Close

Assault Ships

HMS Ocean

An amphibious assault ship, HMS Ocean is designed to deliver troops to the centre of the action by helicopter or by landing craft – we have six helicopter operating spots on our flight deck and our hangar can hold many more aircraft. We have our own Royal Marine assault squadron, 9ASRM, and we also carry four Mk5 landing craft vehicle and personnel (LCVP).

HMS Ocean Homecoming
Apache and Sea King Mk 7s lined up on HMS Ocean off Libya
HMS Ocean and FS Mistral off Libya

Built on the Clyde by Kvaerner Govan, Ocean was a new approach to naval shipbuilding using commercial-build methods and techniques. The ship was launched in October 1995, and named by Her Majesty the Queen on February 20 1998.

We were commissioned in September 1998 in our homeport of Devonport – the heart of the Navy’s amphibious fleet. Until the arrival of the Queen Elizabeth class carriers, HMS Ocean is the largest warship in the Navy’s surface fleet.

Ocean deployed as part of the Cougar deployment with the Response Force Task Group (RFTG) back in April.

After working up with the group she was diverted to Libya where she conducted Strike operations using Apache attack helicopters from 4 Regiment Army Air Corps in support of the NATO mission Op Unified Protector. The Apaches have been ably assisted during the operation by other helicopters embarked in HMS Ocean.

These have included Sea King Mk 7 Airbourne Surveillance and Control (SKASaC) helicopters of 857 Naval Air Squadron conducting maritime surveillance operations and Lynx Mk 7s of 847 Naval Air Squadron providing force protection and logistic support, as well as US Air Force HH60 Pavehawks.

The US airmen from the 56th Rescue Squadron based at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, were on standby for personnel recovery or medical evacuation operations in the event of incidents involving any NATO aircrafts or ships.

COMMANDING OFFICER

Andrew Betton

RANK:
Captain

JOINED:
1987

SPECIALISATION:
Warfare (Observer)

PREVIOUS UNITS:
815 NAS, HMS Grafton, HMS Westminster

Military experience

Captain Andrew Betton joined the Royal Navy in 1987 as a University Cadet and was awarded the Queen’s Sword at Dartmouth. Fleet Training in HMS Peacock in Hong Kong and HMS Exeter, including service during the first Gulf War, led to his first appointment as the Navigating Officer in HMS Redpole, where he served for 2 years as part of the Northern Ireland Squadron.

In 1993 he was accepted into the Fleet Air Arm and joined 815 Squadron at Portland operating Lynx helicopters. Serving as the Flight Observer in HMS Exeter, Boxer and Cumberland, and later as the Flight Commander in HMS Newcastle, he experienced a wide variety of operational flying, ranging from the Caribbean and North Atlantic to the Gulf.

Captain Betton completed Principal Warfare Officer Training in 2000 and was appointed to HMS Grafton as PWO(A), before attending the Advanced Command and Staff Course, where he gained a Masters degree in Defence Studies.

Following promotion to Commander in 2003 and an appointment to the Permanent Joint Headquarters, with responsibility for Rules of Engagement and Targeting, he assumed command of HMS Westminster, deploying to West Africa and the North Atlantic, before moving to the Equipment Capability area of the Ministry of Defence, with desk responsibility for the procurement of the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers.

With ‘Main Gate’ approval achieved for the new ships, he moved to FOST as Commander Sea Training in December 2007, delivering Operational Sea Training for a wide range of British and foreign warships.

Promoted Captain, he deployed to the Gulf as the Commander of the Iraqi Maritime Task Group, with tactical responsibility for the protection of Iraqi’s offshore oil infrastructure. He took command of HMS Ocean in April 2011.

OPERATIONS

Operation Telic

CURRENT STATUS: COMPLETED

MISSION SUMMARY

An ongoing UK commitment to clearing and maintaining a mine countermeasures force in the Gulf.

Cougar Deployment

CURRENT STATUS: COMPLETED

MISSION SUMMARY

Cougar is an amphibious task force exercising in the Mediterranean and Middle East. This task group is the vanguard of the UK’s maritime contingent capability and held at very high readiness to respond to unexpected global events.

UNIT DIARY

Surface Fleet

HMS Ocean

Ocean Wave October Edition03/10/11

The October edition of HMS Ocean's bi-monthly news letter.

Read more
Ocean Wave August Edition03/08/11

The August edition of HMS Ocean's bi-monthly news letter.

Read more
Ocean Wave June Edition01/06/11

The June edition of HMS Ocean's bi-monthly news letter.

Read more

LATEST NEWS

ABOUT THE UNIT

KEY STATISTICS

Pennant: L12

Beam: 35Metres

Complement: 450Personnel

Displacement: 21,500Tonnes

Draught: 6.6Metres

Length: 203.4Metres

Range (Nautical): 8,000Miles

Top Speed: 17Knots

Launch Date: 11/10/95

Commissioned Date: 30/09/98

Military Lift: 660Marines and Air Group personnel

TAKE A LOOK

- Ocean cyclists race ship for charity
  
  Lt Paul Armstrong (left) and Chief Petty Officer Tony Staples in action, during Ocean's recent visit to London.
- HMS Ocean to visit Sunderland
  
  HMS Ocean during her recent visit to London
- HMS Ocean to visit Sunderland
  
  HMS Ocean conducting operational training
- HMS Ocean's visit to Hamburg
  
  Wreath laying cermony at the Commonwealth Ware Graves Cemetery near Hamburg lead by Ocean's Padre, the Rev Jon Backhouse
- HMS Ocean's visit to Hamburg
  
  HMS Ocean's Ceremonial Sunset Guard marches on...
- HMS Ocean's visit to Hamburg
  
  Members of the Ship's Company were given a formal welcome to Hamburg by the Senate at the Rasthaus
- Britain’s biggest warship sails into Germany’s biggest port tomorrow for a three-day visit to Hamburg.
- Britain’s biggest warship sails into Germany’s biggest port tomorrow for a three-day visit to Hamburg.
- Britain’s biggest warship sails into Germany’s biggest port tomorrow for a three-day visit to Hamburg.
- Britain’s biggest warship sails into Germany’s biggest port tomorrow for a three-day visit to Hamburg.
- Visitors to HMS Ocean had a short ferry ride from Greenwich Pier to the ship.
- Lt Paul Armstrong (left) and CPOAC Tony Staples (right) riding for charity.
- Mne Main demonstrates his face painting prowess.
- CPOMA Dan Rowley demonstrates first aid to a young visitor.
- HMS Ocean has arrived on the River Thames today
- HMS Ocean has arrived on the River Thames today
- HMS Ocean has arrived on the River Thames today
- HMS Ocean has arrived on the River Thames today
- HMS Ocean has arrived on the River Thames today
- HMS Ocean has arrived on the River Thames today
- HMS Ocean has arrived on the River Thames today
- HMS Ocean as she sails up the Thames
- HMS Ocean as she sails up the Thames
- HMS Ocean as she sails up the Thames
  
  Passing the Old Royal Naval College Greenwich. 4 May 2012
- HMS Ocean as she sails up the Thames
- HMS Ocean as she sails up the Thames
  
  Passing Canary Wharf
- HMS Ocean as she sails up the Thames
  
  Passing the O2 at North Greenwich
- HMS Ocean as she sails up the Thames
  
  HMS Ocean about to pass under the Thames cable car. 4 May 2012
- HMS Ocean as she sails up the Thames
  
  HMS Ocean passes through the Thames flood barrier
- RM and HMS Ocean
- RM and HMS Ocean
- RM and HMS Ocean
- HMS Ocean
- HMS Ocean
- 2nd Sea Lord Visit
- 2nd Sea Lord Visit
- 2nd Sea Lord Visit
- 2nd Sea Lord Visit
- 2nd Sea Lord Visit
- Oxfordshire Man Presents Pictures To HMS Ocean
  
  David Luscombe Elliot presents a picture of the second HMS Ocean to Captain Andrew Betton, Commanding Officer of the current HMS Ocean.
- Oxfordshire Man Presents Pictures To HMS Ocean
  
  David Luscombe Elliot presents a picture of his four-times Great Grand Father, Vice Admiral Richard Arthur CB, Commanding Officer of the second HMS Ocean in the mid-1840s to Captain Andrew Betton, Commanding Officer of the current HMS Ocean.
- HMS Ocean launching an Apache helicopter
- HMS Ocean Homecoming
- HMS Ocean Homecoming
- HMS Ocean Homecoming
- HMS Ocean Homecoming
- HMS Ocean Homecoming
- HMS Ocean Homecoming
- HMS Ocean Homecoming
- HMS Ocean Homecoming
- HMS Ocean Homecoming
- HMS Ocean Homecoming
- HMS Ocean Homecoming
- HMS Ocean Homecoming
- HMS Ocean Homecoming
- HMS Ocean Homecoming
- HMS Ocean Homecoming
- HMS Ocean Homecoming
- HMS Ocean Homecoming
- General Sir David Richards, the Chief of Defence Staff, addresses HMS Ocean’s ship’s company.
- General Sir David Richards, the Chief of the Defence Staff, on the flight deck of HMS Ocean.
- Captain Andrew Betton, Commanding Officer of HMS Ocean, welcomes General Sir David Richards onboard.
- Apache and Sea King Mk 7s lined up on HMS Ocean off Libya
- Sea King on the flight deck of HMS Ocean off Libya
- Members of 857 Naval Air Squadron chat on their return home from Libya.
- Ocean prepares to take her place in the battle line off Libya again
- Ocean prepares to take her place in the battle line off Libya again
- Helicopter flying from HMS Ocean
- 2SL visits HMS Ocean
- 2SL visits HMS Ocean
- 2SL visits HMS Ocean
- 2SL visits HMS Ocean
- HMS Ocean and FS Mistral off Libya
- Petty Officer Naval Nurse Claire Williams, a Senior Intensive Therapy Unit Nurse
- Major Mike Berski, HMS Ocean’s surgical team Theatre Nurse
- RAF Corporal Suzi Smith, one of the two Emergency Department Nurses embarked in HMS Ocean
- Warrant Officer Beccy Hatch, the surgical team’s Biomedical Scientist
- HMS Ocean Christmas Video
- HMS Ocean
- HMS Ocean
- Its hard work riding up hill; C/Sgt Andy Crawford recovers
- Enjoying the views from the top of a hill
  
  HMS Ocean (L12) is a landing Platform Helicopter Assault Ship in the Royal Navy
- It’s not all hard work; enjoying a well earned café stop.
  
  HMS Ocean (L12) is a landing Platform Helicopter Assault Ship in the Royal Navy
- Striking a pose at the top of yet another of Crete’s many hills.
  
  HMS Ocean (L12) is a landing Platform Helicopter Assault Ship in the Royal Navy
- HMS Ocean
- HMS Ocean aerial view
  
  Army Apache helicopters operating from HMS Ocean
- Apache helicopter firing at sea
  
  Army Apache helicopter operating from HMS Ocean firing at sea for the first time
- Apache helicopter firing at sea
  
  Army Apache helicopters operating from HMS Ocean firing missiles at sea for the first time
- HMS Ocean
- HMS Ocean
- HMS Ocean
- HMS Ocean
- HMS Ocean
- HMS Ocean
- HMS Ocean
- HMS Ocean
- HMS Ocean
- HMS Ocean
- Ocean Wave

UNITS IN TIME

HMS Ocean HISTORY

TRACK THE HISTORY OF SHIPS NAMED HMS Ocean

The First Ocean

This is the sixth ship to bear the name HMS Ocean, with a lineage going back to 1761. The first Ocean, a 90-gun second rate, began the name’s strong links with the West Country in 1770 when she became Flagship to Plymouth. As part of the Channel Fleet, Ocean saw her first real action against the French in 1778 under the lead of HMS Victory. She was sold out of the service in 1793.
Battle Honours

Ushant 1781
The Second Ocean

Ocean’s next incarnation was a second-rate 98-gun warship, she spent the bulk of her service in the Mediterranean, including a spell as Flagship of Vice Admiral Lord Cuthbert Collingwood. She was converted into a depot ship in 1841 and broken up in 1875.
The Third Ocean

The next HMS Ocean was an ironclad of 50 guns. She holds the record for the longest days by any British ironclad under sail of 243 miles heading out to the Far East. She was Flagship of the Commander in Chief on the China Station from 1867 until paying off in 1872, she was eventually sold for scrap in 1882.
The Fourth Ocean

The fourth Ocean earned a reputation as an unlucky ship, suffering various mishaps during build – including 90ft of the ship collapsing. She was one of the first British warships to journey along the Suez Canal and served on the China Station between 1901 and 1905 during which time she was unfortunate enough to be hit by a typhoon. In 1914 she joined the 8th Battleship squadron, and was later tasked to operations in the Dardanelles where her bad luck continued. In March 1915, as she attempted to rescue the mine-struck HMS Irresistible; realising the hopelessness of the situation, Ocean hit a mine – flooding, under fire, irreparable, she was abandoned and sank that evening.
Battle Honours

Dardanelles 1915 Suez Canal 1915
The Fifth Ocean

It was the fifth HMS Ocean that cemented her links with naval aviation. The Colossus-class aircraft carrier had a brief but active service career from her commissioning in July 1945. In October 1945 her deck saw the last Fairey Swordfish flight from a carrier; and in December she welcomed the first landing of a pure jet-powered aircraft. The 1950s saw her carrier in action during the Korean War, then on to the Suez Crisis where she took part in the first helicopter assault landing. She was scrapped in 1962
Battle Honours

Korea 1952-53
Battle Honours

Al Faw 2003

1761
1781
1805
1867
1898
1915
1945
1952
2003

Current Jobs

Chef

As a highly-trained Chef, you’ll be part of a busy team cooking and preparing first class food, making sure the ship’s company (which, on an assault ship, could be up to 900 people) receives three nutritious meals a day. It’s...

More info

Logistics Officer

As a Logistics Officer, you’ll be responsible for making sure your ship has everything it needs, when it needs it, to stay effective on operations. Leading a team of highlytrained specialists, you’ll apply your organisational skills to stock your ship...

More info

Royal Marines Other Ranks

Highly motivated, self sustained and versatile, the Royal Marines with their coveted green beret are the Royal Navy's amphibious infantry. They are one of the world's most respected military units, with a set of attitudes and abilities you won't find...

More info

Current Location

13:20 GMT - 23 May 2012

Current Location

10:31 GMT - 25 May 2012

Current Location

13:16 GMT - 24 May 2012

Current Location

10:49 GMT - 24 May 2012

Current Location

14:17 GMT - 21 May 2012

Latest News

Top Breaking Stories

Also in the news

VIEW BY VESSEL

HMS Ocean

HMS Ocean

HMS Ocean Homecoming

Apache and Sea King Mk 7s lined up on HMS Ocean off Libya

HMS Ocean and FS Mistral off Libya

COMMANDING OFFICER

Andrew Betton

Military experience

OPERATIONS

Operation Telic

CURRENT STATUS: COMPLETED

Cougar Deployment

CURRENT STATUS: COMPLETED

UNIT DIARY

Surface Fleet

HMS Ocean

Ocean Wave October Edition03/10/11

Ocean Wave August Edition03/08/11

Ocean Wave June Edition01/06/11

LATEST NEWS

TOP STORIES

HMS Ocean cyclists to race ship from Sunderland to Plymouth for charity

HMS Ocean visits her affiliated city of Sunderland this weekend

Visit to Hamburg makes thousands of new friends for Ocean

Ocean Hamburg-Bound for the Weekend

ABOUT THE UNIT

KEY STATISTICS

TAKE A LOOK

Ocean cyclists race ship for charity

HMS Ocean to visit Sunderland

HMS Ocean to visit Sunderland

HMS Ocean's visit to Hamburg

HMS Ocean's visit to Hamburg

HMS Ocean's visit to Hamburg

Britain’s biggest warship sails into Germany’s biggest port tomorrow for a three-day visit to Hamburg.

Britain’s biggest warship sails into Germany’s biggest port tomorrow for a three-day visit to Hamburg.

Britain’s biggest warship sails into Germany’s biggest port tomorrow for a three-day visit to Hamburg.

Britain’s biggest warship sails into Germany’s biggest port tomorrow for a three-day visit to Hamburg.

Visitors to HMS Ocean had a short ferry ride from Greenwich Pier to the ship.

Lt Paul Armstrong (left) and CPOAC Tony Staples (right) riding for charity.

Mne Main demonstrates his face painting prowess.

CPOMA Dan Rowley demonstrates first aid to a young visitor.

HMS Ocean has arrived on the River Thames today

HMS Ocean has arrived on the River Thames today

HMS Ocean has arrived on the River Thames today

HMS Ocean has arrived on the River Thames today

HMS Ocean has arrived on the River Thames today

HMS Ocean has arrived on the River Thames today

HMS Ocean has arrived on the River Thames today

HMS Ocean as she sails up the Thames

HMS Ocean as she sails up the Thames

HMS Ocean as she sails up the Thames

HMS Ocean as she sails up the Thames

HMS Ocean as she sails up the Thames

HMS Ocean as she sails up the Thames

HMS Ocean as she sails up the Thames

HMS Ocean as she sails up the Thames

RM and HMS Ocean

RM and HMS Ocean

RM and HMS Ocean

HMS Ocean

HMS Ocean

2nd Sea Lord Visit

2nd Sea Lord Visit

2nd Sea Lord Visit

2nd Sea Lord Visit