Britain has sold the Royal Navy's flagship to Brazil for £84million, it has been reported.HMS Ocean will be recommissioned within the Brazilian navy following the multi-million pound deal, which leaves Britain without an aircraft carrier.The Royal Navy's new flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth is not expected to be fully operational until 2020.Experts fear the sale agreed by top brass will reduce Britain's ability to conduct military operations.However naval bosses claim the money is desperately needed to plug an estimated £20billion black hole in defence finances.The UK Defence Journal reported that a source from within the Brazilian defence community, Roberto Lopes, confirmed a deal had finally been struck.However a Minister of Defence spokesperson told the MailOnline: 'Discussions with Brazil over the long-planned sale of HMS Ocean are at an advanced stage, but no final decisions have been made.'HMS Ocean has served admirably with us since 1998 and the revenue she generates will be reinvested in defence as we bolster our Royal Navy with two types of brand new frigates and two huge aircraft carriers.' HMS Ocean, which cost £150 million when it entered service, is equipped with Wildcat and Merlin Mk3 helicopters.The ship underwent a £65million refit in 2014, leading naval sources to question why money was spent refurbishing the ship, only for it to be sold for £15million more.Its replacement, the much-feted £3.1billion HMS Queen Elizabeth, was launched late last year but will not be running a full capacity for another two years.Weighing a colossal 65,000 tonnes, the Queen Elizabeth is 919ft long with a flight deck of four acres – space for three football pitches.HMS Queen Elizabeth sails past the Spinnaker Tower as she arrives in Portsmouth in August last year The Queen Elizabeth is 919ft long with a flight deck of four acres, space for three football pitches.The 65,000 ton aircraft carrier is the largest and most powerful warship ever built by the UK.It is 184ft from the carrier’s keel to its masthead – 13ft more than Niagara Falls – and it contains 226 miles of pipework.At present, the warship has a crew of around 700, but that will increase to 1,600 when it has a full complement of around 40 F-35B jets and Crowsnest helicopters.It will have an operational range of up to 10,000 nautical miles and will be capable of speeds in excess of 25 knots (29 mph).Facilities include a chapel, a medical centre, five gyms and two weight rooms.Its bakery produces up to 2,000 rolls or baguettes a day.It was assembled at Rosyth from nine blocks built in six UK shipyards, including BAE Systems Surface Ships in Glasgow, Babcock at Appledore, Devon, and Babcock at Rosyth.At present, the warship has a crew of around 700, but that will increase to 1,600 when it has a full complement of around 40 F-35B jets and Crowsnest helicopters.It will have an operational range of up to 10,000 nautical miles and will be capable of speeds in excess of 25 knots (29mph).The Queen commiss
