Amphibious transport dock

From Free net encyclopedia

An amphibious transport dock (also called a landing platform dock or LPD) is a warship that embarks, transports, and lands elements of a landing force for expeditionary warfare missions. The United States Navy operates several of this type of ship; their helicopters, vertical take-off and landing aircraft, and air-cushion or conventional landing craft support of the United States Marine Corps's "vertical envelopment" assault doctrine. The ships are generally designed to transport troops into a war zone by sea, primarily using landing craft, although invariably they will also have a limited airborne capability.

Amphibious transport docks perform the mission of amphibious transports, amphibious cargo ships, and the older LPDs by incorporating both a flight deck and a well deck that can be ballasted and deballasted to support landing craft or amphibious vehicles.