The LHD and helicopter-carrier role differs from a light fleet carrier because troop lift, not fixed-wing aviation, drives the deck arrangement. HMS Ocean was intended to avoid repeating the Falklands experience of placing essential Chinook helicopters aboard Atlantic Conveyor, a merchant ship without warship survivability. A pure helicopter deck could move and support the aircraft central to amphibious operations without surrendering spots to a ski jump. Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales can also carry Chinooks, but doing so uses capacity on the fleet's scarce strike-carrier hulls.
Notable Point · 1:45:23-1:46:28
HMS Ocean answered the Atlantic Conveyor loss
Ocean gave troop-lift helicopters a warship designed to carry them instead of relying on a vulnerable merchant conversion.