Heroes' Welcome: Crowds Greet HMS Ocean After Deployment

Almost 2,000 friends and family have welcomed home loved ones from six months of operations aboard the Royal Navy's fleet flagship HMS Ocean.

She returned to her baseport in Devonport, Plymouth, to an ecstatic welcome. 

Captain Rob Pedre, the ship's captain, paid tribute to his 'highly professional' crew and the 'dedicated' families who help made the ship’s penultimate deployment successful. He said: 

"It's great to be back to Devonport to such an amazing welcome from many hundreds of happy friends and families on the jetty.

"It's a huge honour to bring HMS Ocean home after such an historic and remarkable operational deployment to the Middle East.

"I am particularly proud of how my ship's company, their committed dedication to duty, professionalism and good humour, have delivered the fleet flagship through a challenging programme and reinforced the reputation of the Royal Navy as a capable, world-class fighting force."

He  added: "I'd also like to pay tribute to the stalwart support we have all had from our families and friends who have remained back in the UK, which is invaluable and hugely appreciated.

"Everyone is delighted to be back with their loved ones again - as can be seen by the large emotional crowds."

Captain Pedre said the patrol was historic for the length of the deployment and because of the command role of the ship for Commander Task Force 50 in the Gulf.

Ocean was the first Royal Navy warship to take on this role with the American fleet, which usually takes this lead role from one of its carriers.

He said their spell in charge of the force has served as a vital stepping stone when it comes to operating the UK's new aircraft carriers in the region in the future.

"We have pushed the boundaries of what we can operate," said Capt Pedre. "This deployment will stand us in good stead with the Queen Elizabeth."

Diane and her children Matthew (eight) and Freya (five), met Major Ed Robinson (an Army physiotherapist) from the ship after three months away.  Diane, from Shropshire, said:

"The children have been a handful, so it will be good to have an extra pair of hands to help with them. They accept him being away because they are so young, but it could be less easy to convince them when they are older when he's away.  They are looking forward to playing rugby with him and playing video games, while Matthew likes everything to do with eating."

HMS Ocean's flight deck has played host to every helicopter type in the region during her deployment.

"You name it, we've had it on the deck," said aircraft handler CPO Paddy Ashe, a survivor of the Atlantic Conveyor sinking in the Falklands 35 years ago. "And that's a really good experience for the lads."

Personnel will go on leave on arrival before returning to Devonport to prepare for a final visit to their affiliated city of Sunderland which will be followed by a NATO deployment to the Mediterranean later this year.