List of Landing Ship/Platform Dock classes (L)

ships

Amphibious Ships

LST Landing Ship, Tank: Built by hundreds during WWII with the main feature of bow doors and beaching capability to carry and deliver tanks and vehicles shore-to-shore . Only in 1969 a new concept was introduced with the Newport class: In order to gain a sustained speed of 20 knots the traditional bow doors were replaced by a ramp operated over the bow and supported by twin derrick arms.

LSD Landing Ship, Dock: Introduced during WWII to carry landing craft which would them be launched directly from the ships well-deck or dock: a water-side site at which ships tie up in order to discharge and take in smaller crafts and amphibious vehicles expeditiously. Modern LSD docks are big enough to accomodate several Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) vehicles.

LPD Amphibious Transport Dock (sometimes called Landing Platform Dock): Introduced after the Korean War combining the capabilities of ship classes APA (troops transport), AKA (cargo ship) and LSDs. They transport and land troops and vehicles ashore with their landing crafts and helicopters. British Fearless class usage during the Falklands/Malvinas war is a classic example.

Assault Carriers : LPH, LHA, LHD: Flat top decks which carry and land troops mainly using helicopters. Some classes also have a dock combining the LPD capabilities. They could also operate V/STOL aircraft (like the Harrier) in the support role.

Listed separately are Helicopters Carriers ( Non Amphibious Ships ) as Flat top decks which carry helicopters but normally not landing troops.

Derivatives / Succeeded by

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1943			Ashland class
1944			Casa Grande class
1954			Thomaston class
1969			Anchorage class
1985			Whidbey Island class
1995			Harpers Ferry class
1943			LST(3) class
1949			Magar class
1943			LST-491 class
1960			Argens (mod) class
1962			Raleigh class
1965			Austin class
2006			San Antonio class
1964			Round Table class
1981			Modified Round Table class
1987			Magar (1987) class
1965			Fearless class
2003			Albion class
1965			Ouragan class
1990			Foudre class
1969			Newport class
1972			Atsumi class
1975			Miura class
1974			Ropucha class
1974			Batral class
1978			Type 072 (Yukan) class
1992			Type 072III (Yuting I) class
1993			Type 072II (Yuting) class
2003			Type 072A (Yuting II) class
1984			Kalaat Beni class
1987			San Giorgio class
1987			Normed class
1988			Bougainville class
1994			Jason class
1998			Galicia Class
1998			Rotterdam class
2005			Improved Rotterdam class
2006			Bay class
1998			Osumi class
2000			Endurance class
2007			Type 071 Yuzhao class
2007			Canterbury class
2007			Makassar class
2017			Lewis B Puller Class