Ocean waves farewell to UK Royal Navy service
The UK Royal Navy’s former helicopter carrier HMS Ocean was decommissioned in a ceremony at Devonport naval base on 27 March, bringing an end to 20 years of service.
However, the vessel will transfer into service with the Brazilian Navy, continuing a long tradition of warship sales between the UK and Brazil.
Previous vessel types that have moved between the two countries include the Type 21 frigates and a variant of what would become the River-class Batch II OPVs.
Brazil’s previous flattop São Paulo, formerly the French Navy carrier Foch, was decommissioned in 2017 after 54 years of combined service.
The sale of Ocean to Brazil was confirmed by the UK MoD this year in a deal worth around £84 million ($118 million).
Displacing around 21,000t the vessel, designated a landing platform helicopter (LPH), was built mainly to commercial standards, seeing service in the UK’s support of the 2003 invasion of Iraq and 2011 aerial campaign against Libya.
A rotary wing flypast comprising Wildcat, Merlin, Sea King and Chinook helicopters marked the end of Ocean’s UK service, with the vessel scheduled to undergo a maintenance period before departure for Brazil by the end of the year.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Naval Warfare
-
![How could Rheinmetall’s GMF 140 fit with ongoing programmes in North America?]()
How could Rheinmetall’s GMF 140 fit with ongoing programmes in North America?
With Canada committed to its River-class replacement and the USN pursuing a lower-cost frigate, Rheinmetall will need to demonstrate where the GMF 140 can fill a capability gap in the North American fleet.
-
![Australian industry programme builds pipeline for Virginia-class sustainment]()
Australian industry programme builds pipeline for Virginia-class sustainment
Australian businesses can now bid to support Virginia-class submarine sustainment in Western Australia, as momentum around the Henderson Defence Precinct also builds.
-
![South Korea, Japan and Turkey vie for US shipbuilding access in future frigate contest]()
South Korea, Japan and Turkey vie for US shipbuilding access in future frigate contest
Washington’s search for a foreign-built frigate could hand South Korea, Japan and Turkey a larger prize than a double-hull order: a foothold inside the US shipbuilding industrial base.
-
![Japan’s FY2027 budget bets on stand-off systems to offset demographic decline]()
Japan’s FY2027 budget bets on stand-off systems to offset demographic decline
Japan’s FY2027 defence budget backs stand-off strike, a 17-aircraft MQ-9B buy and a declared bid to lead the world in uncrewed maritime assets, alongside new frigates, submarines and support ships.
-
![Russia’s uncrewed boat portfolio hints at future naval demand]()
Russia’s uncrewed boat portfolio hints at future naval demand
Ukrainian intelligence has catalogued more than 20 Russian uncrewed surface vessels, revealing a portfolio weighted towards mine warfare and logistics, with implications for Western naval investment.
-
![Ukraine’s new long-range 12m autonomous vessel can deploy other drones]()
Ukraine’s new long-range 12m autonomous vessel can deploy other drones
Ukraine’s UForce unveiled the MV11 uncrewed surface vessel, designed to launch and support other naval drones at sea, fuelling debate over the future of autonomous maritime task groups.
