Ocean-class Amphibious Assault Ship

The Ocean-class Amphibious Assault Ships are a pair of amphibious warfare vessels in service in the Royal Navy from the mid-1990s onwards. The Ocean-class ships are designed to support amphibious landing operations and to support the staff of Commander UK Amphibious Force and Commander UK Landing Force. They were constructed in the mid-1990s by Kvaerner Govan Ltd on the Clyde and fitted out by VSEL at Barrow-in-Furness prior to first of class trials and subsequent acceptance in service. Originally, the Ministry of Defence considered having the vessels built commercial vessels to save on costs, however it was rejected on the grounds that the Ocean and her sister ships Colossus would have massively reduced serviced lives. They are complemented by a quartet of Albion-class LPDs.

Specifications

 * Type: Amphibious Assault Ship
 * Service Period: 1998-Present
 * Characteristics:
 * Length: 667 feet (203.3 meters)
 * Beam: 115 feet (35.05 meters)
 * Draught: 21 feet (6.4 meters)
 * Displacement: 21,500 tons (21,200 long tons; 23,700 short tons)
 * Capacity: 830 Royal Marines, 40 vehicles, 4 LCVPs
 * Crew: 465 (285 ship crew and 180 FAA personnel)
 * Propulsion: 2 x Rolls-Royce TM3B Olympus gas turbines, 2 x Crossley Pielstick diesel engines, 2 x Azimunth thrusters
 * Range: 8,000 miles (12,875 kilometers)
 * Speed: 22.5 knots (41.67 km/h)
 * Sensor Suite:
 * Type 996 Radar
 * Type 1007 Radar
 * Countermeasures
 * UAT Electronic Support Measures
 * Armament
 * 3 x 20mm Phalanx CIWS
 * 4 x 20mm guns
 * 4 x FN MAG 7.62mm general purpose machine guns
 * Aircraft Carried: 18 helicopters (AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin, Boeing Chinook, Westland Apache, Westland Lynx, Westland Sea King)

Unit Run

 * HMS Ocean (L12)
 * HMS Colossus (L13)