Brazil commissions helicopter carrier

The Brazilian Navy commissioned the multi-purpose helicopter carrier PHM Atlantico (A140) on 29 June in the United Kingdom.

The ship, formerly the UK Royal Navy's HMS Ocean (L12), was purchased by the Brazilian Navy through a BRL381.081 million (USD98.76 million) deal on 19 February.

HMS Ocean was commissioned in September 1998 and decommissioned on 27 March at HM Naval Base Devonport in Plymouth. In the Royal Navy the ship will be replaced by the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales (R 09).

The helicopter carrier package for Brazil includes an Artisan 3D search radar, KH1007 surface surveillance radar system, four 30 mm DS30M Mk 2 remote weapon systems and four Mk 5B landing craft.

However, the three original 20 mm Mk 15 Block 1B Phalanx close-in weapon systems, the torpedo defence systems and 7.62 mm M134 machine guns were removed from the ship before its transfer to Brazil.

The ship displaces 21.578 tonnes, is 203.43 m long and has a range of 8,000 n miles. It has been undergoing maintenance work by Babcock and BAE Systems since February.

Scheduled to reach its homeport, Arsenal do Rio de Janeiro (AMRJ), on 25 August, PHM Atlantico will undergo operational sea training under the Royal Navy’s Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) programme.

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