Turkey will buy HMS Ocean if Brazil backs out...via Naval News Instagram...

Story via Naval News.

According to a written question in UK Parliament asked by Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham) , to the Secretary of State for Defence; Government of Turkey is willing to buy HMS Ocean if it is not sold to Brazil.

The question is answered by Mr Tobias Ellwood on Nov 13, revealed that "The Ministry of Defence has received an expression of interest from the Government of Turkey about the potential sale of HMS OCEAN"
According to local media in Brazil, the U.K. Ministry of Defence have offered HMS Ocean for sale to the South American country on Mar 17.

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 to support the staff of Commander UK Amphibious Force and Commander UK Landing Force.

The helicopter carrier was constructed in the mid-1990s and commissioned in September 1998.

In November 2015, the MoD confirmed that HMS Ocean is to be decommissioned in 2018 with no like-for-like replacement.

This comes as the Brazilian Navy have decided to abandon the refit of the  aircraft carrier Sao Paulo and decommission the vessel after a series of technical issues and accidents.

Rectification costs are understood to be a major factor in this decision.

Jesus.

Turkey with a helicopter assault carrier?  Just plain awesome.  So now they'll be able to project power too?

Mark my words.  The nations inside and on the periphery of the Middle East aren't all arming up for giggles.  We're looking at a major regional war sometime soon.

This is why I think the deployment of 3 carriers to the Pacific for the current exercise is both awe inspiring and risky.  What if something kicks off and we have 6 carriers down for maintenance because someone decided that a massive show of force was necessary?  Oh and all those forward deployed Marines and Soldiers are dogmeat in our way of war if they can't get adequate air cover.

I hope to God I'm wrong....but Turkey with the HMS Ocean?  This just don't smell right to me.