HMS Ocean heads north for cold winter training

[Anth]

The Royal Navy's largest amphibious warship, HMS Ocean, sailed from Devonport Naval Base on 6 February 2006 to take part in a winter-training exercise in Norway.

HMS Ocean leaving Plymouth
[Picture: LA (Phot) Shaun Barlow]

The exercise will take place in Northern Norway and will include multi-national forces operating at sea and on land. In addition to many ships, the land exercise will involve nearly 15,000 troops. HMS Ocean will embark several sea king helicopters in the week commencing 13 February 2006 in the channel before a short visit to Portsmouth Naval Base. She will then deploy to Norway and rendezvous with her Royal Marines from 45 Commando.
HMS Ocean's landing craft have already deployed and are currently undertaking beach reconnaissance and navigation training. They will rejoin HMS Ocean soon after her arrival. HMS Ocean's Commanding Officer, Captain Chris Snow, said:

"The deployment will provide an excellent opportunity for our embarked military force to train in an inhospitable and demanding environment. This will ensure the RN Service remains flexible, ready and able to deploy at short notice to regions of extreme climate be that the freezing mountains to the hot, arid desert regions.

"In addition the ship's company will be able to enjoy the stunning Norwegian scenery and enjoy some well earned time ashore."

This will be HMS Ocean's first deployment from the UK since Captain Snow assumed command in December 2005. The ship is due to return to the UK in April 2006.

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