Non-Subscriber ExtractUK Apaches complete maritime training on board HMS Ocean |
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By Gareth Jennings
01 October 2009
An Apache helicopter lands on HMS Ocean during maritime training to qualify pilots for deck landing operations (Bernie Henesy/Crown Copyright)
The British Army has deployed two Westland/Boeing WAH-64D Apache AH.1 attack helicopters aboard the Royal Navy (RN) helicopter assault ship HMS Ocean for maritime aviation training, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 24 September.
The helicopters, from 4 Regiment, Army Air Corps (AAC), based at Wattisham in Suffolk, operated from HMS Ocean in the North Sea for two days training, having recently returned from operations in Afghanistan.
During the embarkation, eight pilots conducted multiple day and night landings aboard the RN's largest current warship in order to achieve their deck qualifications. According to the MoD, this exercise "now opens the way for further embarkations".
The AAC's Apaches were due to sail on HMS Ocean , in what would have been the type's first seaborne deployment, earlier in 2009. However, this was put back due to the force's commitments in Afghanistan.
Despite this the MoD confirmed to Jane's in late 2008 that it was still very much committed to achieving a full operating capability (maritime) (FOC[M]) for its Apache helicopters.
The AAC and RN first began shipborne trials of the Apache on HMS Ocean in 2005 dedicated to achieving Ship Helicopter Operation Limitations clearance.