Amphibious transport dock

An amphibious transport dock, also called a landing platform dock (LPD),[1] is an amphibious warfare ship, a warship that embarks, transports, and lands elements of a landing force for expeditionary warfare missions.[2] Several navies currently operate this kind of ship. The ships are generally designed to transport troops into a war zone by sea, primarily using landing craft, although invariably they also have the capability to operate transport helicopters.

The interior configuration of the United States Navy's San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock shows features common to most LPDs

Amphibious transport docks perform the mission of amphibious transports, amphibious cargo ships, and the older dock landing ships (LSD) by incorporating both a flight deck and a well deck that can be ballasted and deballasted to support landing craft or amphibious vehicles. The main difference between LSDs and LPDs is that while both have helicopter landing decks, the LPD also has hangar facilities for protection and maintenance.[3] In the United States Navy, the newer class of LPD has succeeded the older classes of LSDs, and both the Navy and United States Marine Corps are looking to the LPD to be the basis of their new LX(R) program to replace their LSDs.[4]

LPD classes

CountryClassIn serviceCommissionedLengthBeamDraftDisplacement (mt)NoteImage
 AlgeriaKalaat Béni Abbès12015143 m (469 ft)21.5 m (71 ft)5.3 m (17 ft)9,000Improved San Giorgio-class built in Italy.
 AustraliaChoules12011176.6 m (579 ft)26.9 m (88 ft)5.8 m (19 ft)16,160Ex-British Largs Bay (L3006) sold to Australian Navy in 2011, renamed Choules (L100).
 BrazilBahia12016168 m (551 ft)23.5 m (77 ft)5.2 m (17 ft)12,000Ex-French Siroco (L9012) sold to Brazil Navy in 2015, renamed Bahia (G40).
 ChileSargento Aldea12011168 m (551 ft)23.5 m (77 ft)5.2 m (17 ft)12,000Ex-French Foudre (L9011) sold to Chile Navy in 2011, renamed Sargento Aldea (LSDH-91).
 ChinaType 071 (Yuzhao)82007210 m (690 ft)28 m (92 ft)7 m (23 ft)25,000
 IndiaJalashwa12007173.7 m (570 ft)32 m (105 ft)6.7 m (22 ft)16,600Ex-USS Trenton (LPD-14) sold to the Indian Navy in 2007, renamed INS Jalashwa (L41).
 IndonesiaMakassar52007122–125 m (400–410 ft)22 m (72 ft)4.9 m (16 ft)11,394Designed by Daesun Shipbuilding & Engineering Co., first two units were built in South Korea.
 ItalySan Giorgio31987133 m (436 ft)20.5 m (67 ft)7,650 (San Giorgio and San Marco)
7,980 (San Giusto)
 JapanŌsumi31998178 m (584 ft)25.8 m (85 ft)6.0 m (19.7 ft)14,000
 MyanmarMakassar12019122–125 m (400–410 ft)22 m (72 ft)4.9 m (16 ft)11,394UMS Moattama, built in South Korea.
 NetherlandsRotterdam21997166 m (545 ft)27 m (89 ft)6.0 m (19.7 ft)12,750 (Rotterdam)
16,800 (Johan de Witt)
 PeruMakassar2on order[5]122 m (400 ft)22 m (72 ft)4.9 m (16 ft)11,394Built in Peru.
 PhilippinesTarlac22016[6]123 m (404 ft)21.8 m (72 ft)5.0 m (16.4 ft)11,583Subclass of the Makassar-class built in Indonesia.
 QatarAl Fulk1fitting out143 m (469 ft)21.5 m (71 ft)5.3 m (17 ft)9,000Improved San Giorgio-class built in Italy.
 SingaporeEndurance42000141 m (463 ft)21 m (69 ft)5.0 m (16.4 ft)8,500
 SpainGalicia21998166 m (545 ft)25 m (82 ft)5.8 m (19 ft)13,815
 TaiwanYushan12021153 m (502 ft)[7]23 m (75 ft)[7]6.0 m (19.7 ft)[7]10,600[7]
 ThailandAngthong12012141 m (463 ft)21 m (69 ft)5.0 m (16.4 ft)8,500Based on the Endurance-class, built in Singapore.
Chang1sea trials213 m (699 ft)28 m (92 ft)7 m (23 ft)22,000Export version of the Chinese Type 071 amphibious transport dock.
 United KingdomAlbion22003176 m (577 ft)28.9 m (95 ft)7.1 m (23 ft)19,560
Bay32007176.6 m (579 ft)26.9 m (88 ft)5.8 m (19 ft)16,160
 United StatesSan Antonio122006208 m (682 ft)32 m (105 ft)7.0 m (23.0 ft)25,300

Decommissioned

CountryClassOut of serviceCommissionedLengthBeamDraftDisplacement (mt)Note
 FranceOuragan21963–2007149 m (489 ft)21.5 m (71 ft)5.4 m (18 ft)8,500
Bougainville11988–2008113.50 m (372.4 ft)17.00 m (55.77 ft)4.24 m (13.9 ft)4,870
Foudre21990–2015168 m (551 ft)23.5 m (77 ft)5.2 m (17 ft)12,000Sold to Chile and Brazil.
 United StatesRaleigh31962–2005159 m (522 ft)30 m (98 ft)7.0 m (23.0 ft)13,818USS La Salle (LPD-3) converted from Landing Platform Dock to Auxiliary Flagship and redesignated as USS La Salle (AGF-3) in 1972.
Austin31965–2007173 m (568 ft)32 m (105 ft)6.7 m (22 ft)16,914
Austin (Cleveland subclass)71967–2014173 m (568 ft)32 m (105 ft)6.7 m (22 ft)16,914Some sources consider Cleveland (seven built) to be a part of the Austin class. USS Coronado (LPD-11) converted from Landing Platform Dock to Auxiliary Flagship and redesignated as USS Coronado (AGF-11) in 1980.
Austin (Trenton subclass)21971–2017173 m (568 ft)32 m (105 ft)6.7 m (22 ft)16,914Some sources consider Trenton (two built) ships to be a part of the Austin class. Ex-USS Trenton (LPD-14) sold to the Indian Navy and in active service with Indian Navy. USS Ponce (LPD-15) converted (AFSB(I)-15).
 IndonesiaTanjung Dalpele12003-2007122 m (400 ft)22 m (72 ft)4.9 m (16 ft)11,394Converted to a hospital ship in 2007, renamed KRI Dr Soeharso (990).
 United KingdomFearless21965-2002158.5 m (520 ft)24.4 m (80 ft)6.3 m (21 ft)16,950Scrapped between 2002 and 2008. HMS Ocean provided amphibious cover until the two ships of the Albion class were available.

Gallery

See also

References