Contents

1. General Aspects

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Types of Amphibious Ships

2. Amphibious Transport Dock (LPD)
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3. Dock Landing Ship (LSD)

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4. Amphibious Assault Ships - LHD/LHA

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5. Landing Ship, Tank (LST)
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Amphibious Crafts
6. Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC)
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7. Landing Craft, Mechanized And Utility LCM/LCU

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Other Vehicles
8. Light Amphibious Resupply, Cargo(LARC) -16
9. Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV)

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General Aspects
An amphibious ship is understood as that
destined to carry out landing operations, sending men,
weapons and materials necessary for actions on land, directly
or using the means that it transports (landing craft and
helicopters).
The amphibious operations developed during the
Second World War were carried out under the tactical concept
of the availability of ships to carry a combat force and directly
situate it on the beach. After the Second World Cup war many
navies took over amphibious ships from the inventories of the
Royal Navy and especially of the US Navy.
An amphibious operation is a military operation
launched from the sea by naval and landing forces embarked in
ships or craft involving a landing on a hostile or potentially
hostile shore. An amphibious operation requires extensive air
participation and is characterized by closely integrated efforts
of forces trained, organized, and equipped for different combat
functions. The complexity of amphibious operations and the
vulnerability of forces engaged in these operations require an
exceptional degree of unity of effort and operational coherence.
In recent years many large and medium-sized
navies have included amphibious ships with broad multipurpose
capacities in their inventories, capable of carrying out tasks of a
military nature and in support for the civilian population in
cases of catastrophe or natural disaster. These are ships
with a displacement of between 8,000 and 40,000 tonnes at full
load, capable of operating for lengthy periods in waters far from
their base and are equipped with a capacity to operate landing
craft and helicopters and in some cases V/STOL aircraft.
The purpose of amphibious ships can be summarised as
follows : Lifts the armed forces and deploys them far from its
natural borders.

 They carry troops and other armoured vehicles and their

crew.
Very important in tactical warfare and deploying forces in
carrying out supreme attacks.
Also used in rendering assistance to civil authorities at the
time of natural calamities.

Types of Amphibious Ships

AMPHIBIOUS TRANSPORT DOCK

(LPD)

MISSION: To transport and land troops, equipment, and

supplies by means of embarked landing craft and amphibious
vehicles augmented by helicopter lift.
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(Image : INS
Jalashwa of Indian Navy)

An amphibious transport dock, also called a

landing platform/dock (LPD), is an amphibious warfare ship,
a warship that embarks, transports, and lands elements of a
landing force for expeditionary warfare missions. 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.

San Antonio class of US Navy

Landing Platform Dock [LPD] can ballast down in the water,

thereby flooding the well deck with enough water to enable
various sized landing craft to enter the well deck through the
stern gate door. Once docked inside the well deck, troops,
supplies and combat equipment can be loaded into or off of the
amphibious boats and vehicles while simultaneously
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transporting troops and equipment via helicopter from the flight

deck.
The LPD has a helicopter platform built over a well
deck in the rear of the vessel. This provides the tactical
advantage of being able to lift troops, their combat equipment
and supplies onto the same ship. Therefore, the ship
contributes to all phases of the amphibious assault. The well
deck are upper and lower vehicle storage areas, which hold
most of the embarked troops' heavy combat equipment, such
as tanks, tracked amphibious landing vehicles (AAV), jeeps and
trucks.

INS Jalashwa is an amphibious transport dock currently in

service with the Indian Navy. Formerly USS Trenton, she, was
procured from the United States by India in 2005. She was
commissioned on 22 June 2007. INS She is based in
Visakhapatnam under the Eastern Naval Command.
Speed: 20 knots
Boats & landing craft carried:
1 LCAC, or

(Landing Craft, Air Cushion)

1 LCU, or

(Landing Craft Utlity)

4 LCM-8, or
9 LCM-6, or
24 AAV

(Landing Craft Mechanized)

(Amphibious Assault Vehicle)

DOCK LANDING SHIP (LSD)

MISSION: To transport and land troops, equipment, and

supplies by means of embarked landing craft and amphibious
vehicles augmented by helicopter lift.
(Image :
USS Harpers Ferry )

A dock landing ship (also called landing ship, dock

or LSD) is an amphibious warfare ship with a well dock to
transport and launch landing craft and amphibious vehicles.
Some ships with well decks, such as the Soviet Ivan Rogov
class, also have bow doors to enable them to deliver vehicles
directly onto a beach.

Dock Landing Ships support amphibious operations

including landings via Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC),
conventional landing craft and helicopters, onto hostile shores.

An amphibious connector prototype embarks the amphibious dock landing

ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47)

Difference between a Landing Ship Dock [LSD] and a

Landing Platform Dock [LPD] : Initially the LPD had a
helicopter landing deck, whereas the LSD did not. More
recently, while the LSD has acquired a helicopter landing deck,
it lacks the helicopter hangar found on the LPD. American LSDs
typically carry 400-500 troops, while the LPDs carry 700-900
troops.
LSDs are focused on cargo and LPDs on personnel.

AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT SHIPS LHD/LHA

MISSION: Land and support ground forces on enemy territory

by an amphibious assault.
(Image :
USS America (LHA-6))

LHA- Landing ship, Helicopter Assault: General-purpose

amphibious assault ships that serve both landing craft and

helicopters, with a primary emphasis on aviation rather

than landing craft.
LHD - Landing ship, Helicopter Dock: Multi-purpose
amphibious assault ships that can deliver, elements of a
landing force by air and amphibious craft.
These assault ships have a full length flight deck and a
starboard island [like an aircraft carrier]. This is the most
obvious difference with other ships like LPDs.
With the exception of America-class ships, LHA-6 and LHA-7, all
other LHAs and LHDs have well deck.
Well Deck Plan of LHA
LCAC -

1 / 0

LCU

2 / 4

Well Deck Plan of LHD

LCAC -

3 / 0
10

LCU

0 / 2

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Well Deck Of USS Boxer (LHD-4) and an LCU (Landing Craft Utility)

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LANDING SHIP, TANK (LST)

MISSION: Shore to shore delivery of tanks, amphibious assault

vehicles, and troops.
(Image: INS Airavat)

In the WW II era, there was a need for relatively

large, ocean-going ships that could handle shore-to-shore
delivery of tanks and other vehicles in amphibious
assaults. As an interim measure, three shallow-draft tankers
were converted to LSTs. Bow doors and ramps were added to
these ships, which became the first tank landing ships. These
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modifications made it possible for vehicles to disembark

directly from the ship to the beach.

Trucks driven down the ramp of an LST

INS Airavat is the third Shardul-class tank

landing ship of the Indian Navy. She was built by Garden Reach
Shipbuilders & Engineers in Kolkata and began sea trials in July
2008 after completing basin trials in May.
While primarily designed for amphibious assault
operations, Airavat's missions also include humanitarian
assistance & disaster relief (HADR) during natural disasters,
including tsunamis, cyclones and earthquakes. She has a fully
functioning hospital on-board, the capacity to carry 500
soldiers, and can provide stern refueling for other naval vessels.
Capacity of the INS Airavat:
11 MBT (Main Battle Tank)
10 infantry trucks
500 troops

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Amphibious Crafts

LANDING CRAFT, AIR CUSHION

(LCAC)

MISSION: Air cushioned vehicle for transporting, ship-to-shore

and across the beach, personnel, weapons, equipment, and
cargo of the assault elements
(I
mage: A US Navy LCAC)

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The Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC), a class of air-cushion

vehicle (hovercraft), is a high-speed, over-the-beach fully
amphibious landing craft, capable of carrying a 60-75 ton
payload. It is used to transport the weapons systems,
equipment, cargo and personnel of the assault elements of the
Marine Air-Ground Task Force from ship to shore and across
the beach.
LCAC can carry heavy payloads, such as an M-1
tank, at high speeds. The LCAC payload capability and speed
combine to significantly increase the ability of the Marine
Ground Element to reach the shore. Air cushion technology
allows this vehicle to reach more than 70 percent of the
world's coastline, while only about 15 percent of that
coastline is accessible by conventional landing craft.

Zubr class LCAC, world's largest hovercraft

The versatile LCAC can traverse snow, marsh, ice, tundra and
sand. On land, it can traverse obstacles as high as four feet. On
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missions ranging from transporting cargo to minesweeping, the

LCAC is designed to function in extreme conditions ranging
from Arctic cold to Sahara heat.

LANDING CRAFT, MECHANIZED

AND UTILITY - LCM/LCU

MISSION: Transporting tracked or wheeled vehicles and troops

from amphibious assault ships to beachheads or piers.
(I
mage: A US Navy LCU)

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Landing craft are used by amphibious forces to transport

equipment and troops to the shore. Landing craft are also used
to support civilian humanitarian/maritime operations.
LCMs have a bow ramp for onload/offload. LCUs have both bow
and stern ramps for onload/offload and have the ability to
operate at sea for up to 10 days.
The use of landing craft in amphibious assault dates from World
War II. The craft are carried aboard amphibious assault ships to
the objective area
Capacities:
Troops 350
Cargo - 170 tons
Vehicle capacity - 2 M1A1 (tank)
Multiple other vehicles
India currently has six LCUs of the Mk III class and four LCUs of
the Mk IV class.

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Indian Navy Landing Craft Utility built by GRSE

Other Vehicles
LIGHT AMPHIBIOUS RESUPPLY,
CARGO (LARC)

LARC-V Vehicle

Aluminium-hulled amphibious vehicle to transport onto the

beach, personnel and cargo discharged from deep-water ships.

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Originally it was used to ferry supplies from ship to shore, or if

required, further inland.
In addition to the United States, LARCs have been used by
military forces in Australia, Argentina, Portugal, The Philippines
and Iceland. LARC-Vs were used extensively by the US Army
and Navy for beach supply during the Vietnam War.
The LARC-V had:
Maximum speed
9 knots (water)
30 mph (land)
Cargo capacity
5t
It can also carry 20 fully equipped troops, plus the crew of
three.

AMPHIBIOUS
(AAV)

ASSAULT

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VEHICLE

Designed to assault any shoreline from the well decks of Navy

assault ships, AAVs are highly mobile, tracked armored
amphibious vehicles that transport troops and cargo to and
through hostile territory.
Typically, the first vehicles to land during beach raids and
assaults. Operates at speeds of 72 km/h on land; 8-10 knots in
water.
Can fire on land and water. Enough fuel to drive 500 km inland.
Eight smoke grenade launchers. Turret armed with .50 cal
machinegun and 40mm grenade launcher
Presently manufactured by U.S. Combat Systems. Mitsubishi is
also building an amphibious assault vehicle.

References
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US Navy - http://www.navy.mil
Wikipedia
http://www.military-today.com/
http://www.navsource.org/

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