From Marsha:
All I Want For Christmas – HMS OCEAN, from TwoSixTV
After lots of time away last year (214 days) — planned for 7 week deployment exercise with other nations. Diverted to Libya and further operations; Back 9 Dec after 7½ months away – 225 days with 176 at sea.
The ship’s company made a Christmas DVD when they heard they would be home for Christmas.
400 people onboard (at peak during the amphibious exercises just under 900 onboard but approx 650 during Op Ellamy); Steamed just over 40,000 miles; Burned approx 6,000 tonnes of fuel; Operated 16 different type of aircraft off the deck.
Realities of deploying:
15 babies born while the ship has been away (fathers did get home to see mum and baby); 5 people were sent home so they didn’t miss their own weddings; 1 sailor whose son’s third birthday is on homecoming. Family meeting ship
Ships company have missed:
Summer holidays; Children’s exam results; Children finishing school and starting university; The Padre missed his daughter’s graduation.