Large Amphibious Assault Vessels

This thread is all about large Amphibious Assault vessels around the world. Their details, pictures, capabilities, and news regarding them.

US America Class LHA


US Wasp Class LHD


US Tarawa Class LHA


UK Ocean Class LPH


SKOR Dokdo Class LPH​

In addition to the unprecedented development of aircraft carriers of all sorts around the globe...and this is happening in more countries than ever before with the US, the UK, France, Russia, Brazil, India, Japan, Spain, Italy, and Thailand all having active, commisioned aircraft carriers, and with China openly indicating their plans to do so in the near future...there is a less reported development of large Amphibious Assault vessels also being designed, developed and launched that is equally wide spread and equally important to the overall naval balance.

By large Amphibious Assault vessels, this thread is speaking of large ships, with large aircraft decks, that support hundreds of troops being able to be either air assaulted, amphibious assaulted, or both onto shore from out at sea.

For the purposes of this thread, this will be limited to the following types/classes of vessels:

LHD - Landing Helicopter Dock
LHA - Landing Helicopter Assault
LPH - Landing Platform Helicopter
LPD - Landing Platform Dock
LSD - Landing Ship Dock
LCC - Landing Command and Control

FRA Mistral Class LHD


PRC Yuzhao Class LPD


JPN Osumi Class LPD


NETH Rotterdam Class LPD


N ZEA Canterbury Class LPD


US San Antonio and Austin Class LPDs
​

In that regard, the following classes are currently operated by the following navies around the world to date...with more being developed as we speak:

LHD - Landing Helicopter Dock
USA - Wasp Class
FRA - Mistral Class

LHA - Landing Helicopter Assault
USA - Tarawa, America Classes

LPH - Landing Platform Helicopter
GBR - Ocean Class
FRA - Jeanne D'Arc Class
KOR - Dokdo Class

LCC - Landing Command and Control
USA - Blue Ridge Class

LPD - Landing Platform Dock
USA - San Antonio, Austin Classes
GBR - Albion Class
SPA - Galicia Class
NED - Rotterdam Class
CHN - Yuzhao (Type 71) Class
FRA - Foudre Class
NZL - Cantebury Class
IND - Jalashva Class
ITA - San Giorgio Class
JPN - Osumi Class
SIN - Endurance Class

LSD - Landing Ship Dock
USA - Harpers Ferry, Whidbey Island Classes
GBR - Bay Class

As a point of interest and reference, the following classes : LHA, LHD, LPD, and LHA are comprehensively documented by their specifications, history, and extensiveily with pictures of each at the following web site:

WORLD WIDE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS - LARGE DECK AMPHIBIOUS VESSELS

 

Here's some news for the Large Amphibious Assault Vessel thread.

It was not well noted, and is now over a year old, but for those interested, the 1st steel cut for the new USS America, LHA(R)-6, was completed in February 2008.

The USS America, is the first in class of the LHA replacement program meant to replace the older Tarawa Class LHAs in the US Navy inventory. This vessel will be optimized for air assault and sea control. She is expected to be launched in late 2010 and commissioned in 2013.

Artist Concept of the USS America, LHA(R) 6​

 

She is going to be a GREAT vessel.

Optimized for air operations, and ACE operations in partiulcar.

Check out my:

USS AMERICA PAGE

Problem is that the funding for follow on vessels is not as sure, and they are considering MSC options for sea basing which would end up, in essence, making her a single vessel in class with the follow ons being something entirely different.

I, for one, hope that does not happen. We need to replace the Tarawa class as they go out of service with something of equal or better capability...not less. But that is my own opinion.

 

Thanks...I hope it helps educate people and also fill the interests of thoise, like myself, who have great interest and love for naval matters such as these.

The LHA term came first with the Tararwa Class and emphasised the large assault helicopter carrying capability of the Tarawa class. When the Wasp Class came out, one of tha main enhancements was to the well deck, which, with the Wasp, enabled three LCACs versus one for the Tarawa class at the time. The US Navy wanted to emphasize, in the designation, this enhanced well-deck capability of the vessels, thus the LHD designation.

Now, with the America, which has no well deck, we are back to the helicopter emphasis, which without the well-deck, is probably more appropriate. However, with the emphasis on the VTOL V-22 and F-35B, that designation could also stand some modification, Perhaps LVA or something.

Well, the Makin Island, LHD-8 and the America LHA-6, both just went to gas turbines and I believe that will be the extent of the propulsion change for these vessels in the near future. No talk right now of any pending or planned Nuclear propulsion for any gater vessel.

There is much talk about this, and quite frankly, it has the future of the America class up in the air right now somewhat. There is talk about the follow on vessels being MSC (which would mean a large part of the crew would be civilian) and having them focused on sea-basing and military sea-lift from that perspective. I believe that type of thing could be done, but seperately and not at the cost of the America class replacing the Tarawa class. The US will need those ARG center pieces until the replacement for the Wasp class comes along.

 

It is very close to the US Navy Sea Control concept...only, IMHO, better (and, more expensive). This vessel will have far more multi-function capability, being equally well suited for the air assault role with large numbers of helos and MV-22 Osprey, or other ACE configurations, in addition to the Sea Control role with up to 22 JSFs.

If a ASW and AEW variants of the Osprey are ever developed and put into service, then these types of carriers, from the America to the Italian and Spanish vessels, to all other VTOL vessels, would become significantly more powerful and could then be considered true medium sized (and capable) aircraft carriers.