Ships of the United States Navy | |
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Ships in current service | |
Ships grouped alphabetically | |
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This is a list of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships. This type of ship has been in use with the US Navy since World War I.
Ship status is indicated as either currently active [A] (including ready reserve), inactive [I], or precommissioning [P]. Ships in the inactive category include only ships in the inactive reserve, ships which have been disposed from US service have no listed status. Ships in the precommissioning category include ships under construction or on order.
There have been four generations of amphibious warfare ships, with each generation having more capability than the previous:
During the naval build-up for World War II, and into the Cold War, many Maritime Commission (MARCOM) standard designs were converted to US Navy amphibious warfare ships:
The first amphibious warfare ships had a top speed of 12 to 17 knots. With the appearance of higher speed submarines at the end of World War II, the US Navy decided that all new amphibious warfare ships would have to have a minimum speed of 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) to increase their chances of survival. All new ships with a full flight deck (LPH, LHA, LHD), the Landing Platform Docks (LPD) and the High Speed Transport destroyer conversions (APD/LPR) would meet this criteria. The other major types would see relatively small numbers of new ships constructed with this 20 knot requirement, with the last appearing in 1969.[1]
Amphibious warfare ships were considered by the US Navy to be auxiliaries and were classed with hull classification symbols beginning with 'A' until 1942. Many ships were reclassed at that time as landing ships and received new hull symbols beginning with 'L'; others would retain 'A' hull symbols until 1969 and then receive 'L' symbols. This article pairs the two lists of what are the same ships, with each 'L' list preceding the respective 'A' list. Littoral Combat Ships also use 'L' hull symbols but are not solely intended for amphibious warfare.
In 2015 the US Navy created new hull classification symbols that began with an 'E' to designate 'expeditionary' vessels. Expeditionary vessels are designed to support low-intensity missions, allowing more expensive, high-value amphibious warfare ships to be re-tasked for more demanding missions. Most of these ships are not commissioned warships, but rather are operated by the Military Sealift Command.[2]
Further information: Landing helicopter assault |
Tarawa-class amphibious assault ship
The Tarawa-class LHA was the first to combine the features of the well deck of the Landing Ship Dock (LSD) or Landing Platform Dock (LPD) and the full flight deck of the Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH) into one ship.[3]
America-class amphibious assault ship
The America-class LHA would be a follow-on to the Wasp-class LHD. The first two ships, America and Tripoli, would not have a well deck, so as to dedicate more space to the support of air operations. This was criticized as a repeat of the mistakes of the LPH concept, and so it was decided that Bougainville and all future ships of this class would have a well deck.[4]
Further information: Landing helicopter dock |
Wasp-class amphibious assault ship
The well deck of the Tarawa-class LHA was not designed to accommodate the Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC), which came into service just six years after the last of that class was completed. The Wasp-class LHD and the later units of the America-class LHA were designed to be LCAC compatible; the Wasp-class could carry 3 LCACs.[8]
Further information: Landing platform helicopter |
The Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH) would be the first ships to operate helicopters for large scale air assault behind beaches. One major defect of the LPH concept was that these ships did not carry landing craft to disembark Marines when weather or hostile anti-aircraft systems grounded helicopters; only Inchon would be modified to carry two landing craft. In such situations the LPH would be reliant on landing craft supplied by other ships, which proved awkward in practice. This defect would drive the design of the Tarawa-class LHA, in effect a LPH with a well deck.[10]
Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship
As the 'definitive' LPH design, the Iwo Jima class would be the only class to be built as such, with sufficient 'hotel' accommodations for the embarked Marines. All other LPH ships would be conversions of aircraft carriers, and so had accommodation deficiencies (for example, some Marine units could not bunk together, and water distillation was insufficient to allow all personnel showers within a 24 hour period).[12]
After their retirement as amphibious warfare ships, one (Inchon) would be converted to carry minesweeping helicopters as a mine countermeasures support ship (MCS). All of these ships would be scrapped or sunk as targets by 2018.
The following LPH ships were converted Essex-class aircraft carriers, due to budget constraints with the construction of the Iwo Jima class ships.[13]
Thetis Bay was converted from a Casablanca-class escort carrier. Under the hull designation CVHA-1, she was the prototype for the LPH concept.[14]
Further information: Amphibious transport dock and Command ship |
The Landing Platform Dock (LPD) concept began as a compromise design, an attempt to build a ship with much more capability than a Landing Ship Dock (LSD) - the LPD superficially resembles an LSD with an enlarged flight deck - but without the expense of a LPH. The well deck is smaller than that of an LSD.[15]
Several of these ships were built with space dedicated for command capabilities. Two of these, LaSalle and Coronado, would be redesignated as auxiliary command ships (AGF).
Raleigh-class amphibious transport dock
Austin-class amphibious transport dock
Cleveland-subclass
Trenton-subclass
San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock
Further information: LX(R)-class amphibious warfare ship |
The San Antonio-class were the first LPDs designed to accommodate Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC); two could be carried.[16]
Further information: Dock landing ship |
The LSD came as a result of a British requirement during World War II for a vessel that could carry large landing craft across the seas at speed. The design was developed and built in the US for the Royal Navy and the US Navy. The first LSDs could carry 36 LCM at 16 knots (30 km/h) in a flooding well deck, the first ships with this capability. After the war they were modified with the addition of a temporary superdeck over the well deck; this could support helicopter operations, carry vehicles, or be removed for outsized cargo.[18]
In December 2020 the U.S. Navy's Report to Congress on the Annual Long-Range Plan for Construction of Naval Vessels stated that it was planned that all LSDs would be placed Out of Commission in Reserve by 2027.[19]
Ashland-class dock landing ship
Casa Grande-class dock landing ship
Thomaston-class dock landing ship
The Thomaston class would be the first class of LSDs capable of 20 knots.[20]
Anchorage-class dock landing ship
The Anchorage class was basically the Thomaston class with the well deck enlarged (49 feet longer and 2 feet wider) to accommodate the new larger LCU-1610 class. They would later be modified to carry up to 3 LCACs.[21]
Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship
The Whidbey Island-class were the first LSDs designed to accommodate Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) - up to 5 LCACs could be carried - and the first in which the helicopter deck would not be removable.[22]
Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship
The Harpers Ferry-class is basically the Whidbey Island-class with more cargo capacity at the expense of a shorter well deck which could carry 2 LCACs.[24]
The APM hull classification was short-lived; it was changed to Landing Ship Dock (LSD).[25]
Further information: Amphibious command ship and Command ship |
All Amphibious Force Flagships (AGC) in service in 1969 were reclassed as Amphibious Command Ships (LCC), which should not be confused with the World War II era Landing Craft, Control (LCC).
Mount McKinley-class command ship
The Blue Ridge-class would be the only amphibious command ships purposely built as such by the US Navy, and the first and only class capable of exceeding 20 knots. Their hulls were based on the Iwo Jima-class Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH) design due to the need for flat deck space for multiple antennas. After the retirement of the fleet flagships [cruisers] these ships would be pressed into that role despite their lack of speed relative to carrier strike groups.[26]
Further information: Amphibious command ship § World War II, and Command ship |
All Amphibious Force Flagships (AGC) in service in 1969 were reclassed as Amphibious Command Ships (LCC).
Appalachian-class command ship
Troop transport conversion
Coast Guard cutter conversions
Mount McKinley-class command ship
Barnegat-class seaplane tender conversion
Presidential yacht (never used as a true AGC)
Further information: Amphibious cargo ship |
All Attack Cargo Ships (AKA) in service in 1969 were reclassed as Amphibious Cargo Ships (LKA).
Andromeda-class attack cargo ship
Tolland-class attack cargo ship
The Tulare would be the first AKA/LKA capable of 20 knots.[27]
Further information: Amphibious cargo ship |
All Attack Cargo Ships (AKA) in service in 1969 were reclassed as Amphibious Cargo Ships (LKA).
The Tulare and the Charleston class would be the only AKA/LKAs capable of 20 knots.[28]
Further information: Attack transport |
All Attack Transports (APA) in service in 1969 were reclassed as Amphibious Transports (LPA).
The Paul Revere class would be the first and only class of APA/LPA capable of 20 knots.[29]
Further information: Attack transport |
Two transports with the hull symbol AP, USS George F. Elliott (AP-13) and USS Leedstown (AP-73), had been configured as attack transports but were sunk in 1942 before the introduction of the APA hull symbol.
All attack transports (APA) in service in 1969 were reclassified as amphibious transports (LPA).
McCawley-class attack transport
Heywood-class attack transport
President Jackson-class attack transport
Crescent City-class attack transport
Arthur Middleton-class attack transport
Bayfield-class attack transport
Windsor-class attack transport
Gilliam-class attack transport
Frederick Funston-class attack transport
Haskell-class attack transport
(* cancelled in 1945)
Paul Revere-class attack transport
The Paul Revere class would be the first and only class of APA/LPA capable of 20 knots.[30]
Further information: High-speed transport |
Fast Amphibious Transports with hull symbol LPR were converted destroyer escorts which had originally received the hull classification symbol APD; as of 1969 the remaining ships were reclassified as LPRs.
Further information: High-speed transport |
High-speed Transports (APD) were converted destroyers and destroyer escorts; they received the US hull classification symbol APD: "AP" for transport and "D" for destroyer. In 1969, the remaining ships were reclassified as "Fast Amphibious Transports" with hull symbol LPR. This classification is not to be confused with hull code "HST", also for "High Speed Transport", currently assigned only to experimental high-speed catamaran designs, and high-speed catamarans chartered from private ferry companies.
Main article: List of submarines of the United States Navy |
Main article: List of submarines of the United States Navy |
Main article: Landing Craft Air Cushion |
Further information: Hovercraft § United States military |
See also: List of patrol vessels of the United States Navy § Patrol air cushion vehicle (PACV) |
Not to be confused with the later Amphibious Command Ship (LCC).
During World War II a number of small boats were built to direct the movements of landing craft as they approached beaches. These were 56 feet in length, displaced 30 tons, and ran 13-16 knots in speed. They were equipped with multiple radios and SO radar (the same radar as on PT boats). During the invasion of southern France they were used to control drone minesweepers.[31]
The United States Navy built 932 Landing Craft Infantry ships in World War II.
Main article: List of United States Navy Landing Craft Infantry (LCI) |
The United States Navy built 11,144 landing craft Motorized, designated Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM) in World War II.[32]
Further information: Landing Craft Mechanized |
Further information: Landing Craft Support |
The United States Navy built 1,394 landing craft tank, designated Landing Craft Tank (LCT) in World War II. Those that were still in use in 1949 were redesignated as Landing Craft, Utility.
Further information: Landing Craft Tank |
The United States Navy built the LCU 1466, 1610 and 1627 classes after World War II.[33]
Further information: Landing Craft Utility § LCU 1466, 1610 and 1627 classes |
Towards the end of World War II the United States Navy built 558 Landing Ship Medium (LSM) type vessels across three classes.
Main article: List of United States Navy Landing Ship Medium (LSM) |
As of February 2023 the US Marine Corps has proposed the purchase of 18 to 35 modern LSMs; this LSM concept was previously known as the Light Amphibious Warship (LAW).[34][35]
The United States Navy built nearly 1,200 tank landing ships, classified as "Landing Ship, Tank" or "LST", from the World War II-era up through the early 1970s.[36] The Newport class, which entered service in 1969, would be the last class built and the only class capable of exceeding 20 knots. The 1987 introduction of Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) — which allowed for over-the-horizon amphibious landings onto a far larger number of beaches — made LSTs obsolete, but they remained with the fleet for another decade because they were the only means by which the hundreds of thousands of gallons of motor vehicle fuel needed by a Marine Expeditionary Force could be landed. Only the development of tankers with the Offshore Petroleum Discharge System (OPDS) and the later development of special fuel bladders which gave the LCACs a tanker capability allowed for their retirement.[37]
Main article: List of United States Navy LSTs § By class |
Further information: Landing Ship, Tank (Hospital) |
The ATL hull classification was short-lived; it was changed to Landing Ship Tank (LST).[38]
The World War II LSVs were converted from cruiser minelayers (CM) and netlayers (AN).[39] After the war most were slated to become mine countermeasures ships (MCS), but only two were actually converted.
The post-WW2 LSVs were among the first roll-on/roll-off cargo ships.[40]
Thirty-five PC-461-class submarine chasers were converted into amphibious landing control vessel during World War II and reclassified as Patrol Craft, Control after the war. Extra personnel (eight radiomen, two signalmen, one quartermaster and two communications officers), accommodations and improved radar and communications equipment were added. PCs proved exceptionally adept as Control Vessels, guiding waves of landing craft during numerous amphibious landings in the European and Pacific Theaters.[41]
Thirteen Patrol Craft Sweepers (which were built on 134-foot YMS-1-class minesweeper hulls) were converted into amphibious landing control vessel during World War II and reclassified as Patrol Craft Sweeper, Control.[42]
Bethesda-class expeditionary medical ship
Further information: Expeditionary fast transport |
Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport
In January 2023, the Navy announced that three Expeditionary Medical Ships (EMS) had been approved in the 2023 military budget.[45] By May 2023 the three ships had been officially reclassified from EPF to EMS.[43]
Further information: Expeditionary Transfer Dock § Expeditionary Mobile Base (ESB) variants |
Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary mobile base
Note there is no ESB-1 or ESB-2, the ESB and ESD hulls have one sequence.
Further information: Expeditionary Transfer Dock |
Further information: Littoral Combat Ship and Littoral Combat Ship § Irregular warfare and amphibious modules |
Freedom-class littoral combat ship
Independence-class littoral combat ship
Barracks ships are auxiliaries that are used in a variety of roles, not only for amphibious warfare.
Main article: List of auxiliaries of the United States Navy § Self-Propelled Barracks Ships (APB) |
Main article: List of auxiliaries of the United States Navy § Barracks Craft (APL) |
OPDS ships support amphibious operations by pumping needed fuel ashore without the need for port facilities. They do not have unique hull classification symbols.[50]
All OPDS tankers have been scrapped.