The Olympic Games are Here – At Least for the Military - The Helicopter Carrier OCEAN has sailed up the River Thames and berthed at Greenwich and will play a key role supporting the police in providing security to the Olympic Games.   The OCEAN will remain “on station” (a period of seven weeks, until mid September 2012) until after the Paralympics Games and will act as a helicopter landing platform and logistics hub in support of maritime and air security operations, and an accommodation ship for 400 military personnel.

Embarked on OCEAN will be 9 Assault Squadron Royal Marines, with their four (4) landing craft, capable of landing troops or a Land Rover sized vehicles.  Also embarked will be small craft operated by Royal Marines from 539 Assault Squadron and 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group,

  

The Air Group operating from the OCEAN will comprise:-

-       APACHE Gunships are likely to reprise their role during the Libyan campaign, probably designated 661 Squadron Army Air Corps, which is charged with the aviation reaction role - 661 Squadron Army Air Corps does not appear on any published list of Army Air Corp units

-       Four (4) Naval LYNX and four (4) Army LYNX helicopters

Detached Ashore @ RAF Northolt (but no doubt using OCEAN as their Forward Base)

-       three (3) Airborne Surveillance and Control Early Warning SEA KING ASaC.7 helicopters of 854 Naval Air Squadron (from Culdrose).

-       SEA KING HC4 helicopters from the Commando Air Wing at Yeovilton