HMS Ocean renews the old tradition of helicopter carriers in the Royal Navy. The amphibious assault ship is classified as landing platform helicopter. Her design is based on the Invincible class VSTOL aircraft carriers but she was built at merchant navy standards. This combination gave the Royal Navy a modern helicopter carrier at the costs of a frigate. A second unit was originally planned but later dropped. For the time being the Invincible class aircraft carriers will act as backup of HMS Ocean when she undergoes refits. After HMS Ocean proofed her high value for the Royal Navy during her first two years in service already it seems very likely that a second unit might be buildt after the Invincible class will be decommissioned.
| Complement | 255 (plus 206 aircrew plus 480 Royal Marines - up to 800 troops in short term) |
| Displacement | 20500 tons (21760 tons full load) |
| Dimensions | 203 x 36,1 x 6,6 m |
| Flight deck | full flight deck (170 x 32,6 m), 2 elevators |
| Propulsion | 2 Crossley Pielstick 16 PC2.6 V200 diesel engines - 23904 HP |
| Speed | 18 knots |
| Radar: | 1 Siemens-Plessey type 996, 2 Kelvin Hughes type 1007 |
| electronic warfare | 1 Racal Thorn UAT, 1 Racal Thorn type 675 jammer, DLJ/DLH decoy |
| Armament | 3 Phalanx CIWS, 4 Oerlikon/BAe 30 mm twin guns |
| Amphibious Capabilities | 4 landing crafts, up to 40 vehicles |
| Aviation | 12 EH101 Merlin, 6 Sea Lynx - can transport up to 20 Sea Harrier |
last update 8.7.2000