075 LHD thread

MarKoz81

Junior Member
Registered Member
Sure. Don't doubt that.

Just pointing out that ship captain or ship prestige has little to do with this. Likewise, not all amphib platforms are built with that level of C3 too. For all you know, there could be a purpose built group/fleet command ship like the Blue Ridge

American LHDs never operate on their own. The smallest formation is the Expeditionary Strike Group which consists of 1 LHD and 2 LPDs carrying a single MEU and two-three escorts - originally a cruiser with command facilities, a destroyer and a frigate - as well as an attack sub.

On an operational scale however en ESG never moves into position without a CSG present in the area.

LHDs are not command ships. Their role is to deploy land forces and the only C3 involves staging the assault or retrieving the forces. The rest is managed by the ground forces. This is why - at least in the American military - the USN provides the ships and the USMC provides everything else.

Consider that even in the CSG the carrier is not the capital ship for the naval force - that's the cruiser. The only reason why a carrier would carry an admiral is because the entire task force consisting of the CAW and the ships has to be managed jointly and it's easier to manage air operation which are the primary offensive and defensive capability from the carrier while the escorts do their job separately.

In short I don't know where the idea that an LHD is some capital ship would come from. Only from misunderstanding of fleet operations.
 

Richard Santos

Captain
Registered Member
you have an interesting understanding of the term “capital ship”.

A capital ship is not a ship from which control of the fleet is exercise. a capital ship is the ship that is the raison d’etre of the fleet. If a fleet is beaten when that ship is beaten, then that ship is the capital ship.

so an LHD is easily the capital ship of the assault force, just as the carrier is the capital ship of a carrier task force, regardless of which ship the senior admiral might be on.
 

Richard Santos

Captain
Registered Member
What is the total force delivery objective of the Chinese amphibious assault force? It seems to me each type 071 can deliver 1 light battalion, and 075 can deliver 1 armored heavy battalion, plus close support by attack helicopters. So total force that can be delivered in one lift with existing forces is equivalent to just over 1 division sized unit with organic attack helicopter and armor. if the additions mentioned above is accurate then total force delivery objective is about 2 divisions with organic and armor.
 
Top