In September 2008 HMS OCEAN, known affectionately to her ship’s company as the Mighty ‘O’, emerged 2 months late from a £35 million, 14 month refit period.

She defied the expectations of many by catching up on an accelerated programme of sea trials and the rigours of arguably the most demanding sea training in the world at the hands of FOST.

Fully worked up, she embarked helicopters and marines to deploy as part of the Amphibious Task Group for Taurus 09, the largest RN deployment to the Far East in over a decade.

This book tells the story in pictures of the ship, her company and how the Mighty ‘O’ went East.

Foreword by Captain Simon King

Images by LPHOT Bernie Henesy and CPO Ed Coleman