HMS Ocean returns home for Christmas 09.12.11
16A Royal Navy warship that became the launchpad for Army Apache helicopter strikes during the Libyan crisis has arrived home today.
Around 1,000 people welcomed helicopter carrier HMS Ocean and her crew to Plymouth after a seven-and-a-half month tour of duty which saw them play a key role in operations against the regime of Colonel Gaddafi.
Originally sent to the Mediterranean in late April to take part in amphibious warfare exercises she was redeployed to the waters off Libya at the beginning of May as the crisis there escalated.
What was due to be a seven-week exercise turned into more than seven months away on active service for the amphibious assault ship.
On June 4 the first seaborne raids by Army Air Corps Apache attack helicopters, destroying military vehicles, installations and communications equipment, were launched from the deck of the 22,000 ton vessel, currently the largest in the Royal Navy.
HMS Ocean's commanding officer, Captain Andrew Betton, added: "After uncertainty in our programme we are all delighted to be back home for Christmas and are really looking forward to seeing our loved ones again.''