Jura The idiot
General
now I read (dated
9th April 2017, 3:50 am)
FLAGSHIP FOR SALE Royal Navy’s flagship helicopter carrier HMS Ocean could join Brazil’s fleet as defence chiefs confirm it is up for sale
9th April 2017, 3:50 am)
FLAGSHIP FOR SALE Royal Navy’s flagship helicopter carrier HMS Ocean could join Brazil’s fleet as defence chiefs confirm it is up for sale
ROYAL Navy flagship HMS Ocean could soon be sailing under a different flag – as part of the Brazilian fleet.
Defence chiefs have confirmed the 28,000-ton helicopter carrier is for up for sale and that they are in talks with foreign governments.
Brazil’s naval chiefs are keen to buy the vessel, which has seen active service in the Iraq War and an SAS rescue operation in Sierra Leone.
Its sale will leave the Royal Navy without a carrier of any kind until 2023, when HMS Queen Elizabeth becomes operational.
Brazilian officials say they believe the asking price – a closely-guarded secret – is “reasonable” and they are examining the prospect “with cautious optimism”.
HMS Ocean visited Brazil in 2010 and worked with the country’s marines during a diplomatic mission to South America.
The Brazilian Navy is said to be keen to buy Ocean, currently the largest vessel in the Royal Navy, after deciding not to conduct a costly upgrade one of its ageing carriers.
The MoD would not comment on the ship’s price-tag would but the carrier HMS Illustrious was recently sold to a Turkish recycling yard for just £2million.
HMS Ocean is the UK’s only helicopter carrier and the fleet flagship of the Royal Navy.
She is designed to support amphibious landing operations and took part in the opening hours of the Iraq war when Royal Marines flew out from the carrier to attack enemy positions on the Al Faw peninsular in southern Iraq.
In November 2015, the MoD confirmed that HMS Ocean was to be decommissioned as part of the government’s defence cuts, in 2018.
The vessel, which came into service in 1998, recently completed a £60m refit which would have kept her sea worthy for at least another six years.
Some senior naval officers had hoped that the vessel might be given a reprieve in the same way that RAF Tornado squadrons were extended in service after previously facing the axe.
One senior source said: “Ocean is still a very capable vessel. There is no reason why she could not remain in service until 2023 – the decommissioning will weaken Britain’s defences.”
An MoD spokesman said: “A number of options are being considered for the future of Ocean, including the possibility of selling to another government.
“It is too soon in the process to discuss what those options might be.”
