Login
Login

helicopter carrier

{{short description|Type of aircraft carrier}}

{{redirect|Helicopter destroyer|more detail on destroyer-sized hybrid warships|Aircraft cruiser}}

File:HMAS Canberra in July 2019.jpg.]]

A helicopter carrier is a type of aircraft carrier whose primary purpose is to operate helicopters. It has a large flight deck that occupies a substantial part of the deck, which can extend the full length of the ship like {{HMS|Ocean|L12|6}}{{cite web|url=http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/ocean/ |title=HMS Ocean (LPH01) Helicopter Carrier |publisher=Naval Technology |date=2011-06-15 |access-date=2014-04-20}} of the Royal Navy (RN), or extend only partway, usually aft, as in the Soviet Navy's {{sclass|Moskva|helicopter carrier|4}}{{Cite web |title=Overview {{!}} Moskva Class {{!}} Collections {{!}} Research {{!}} National Cold War Exhibition |url=https://www.nationalcoldwarexhibition.org/research/collections/moskva-class/ |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=www.nationalcoldwarexhibition.org}} or in the Chinese Navy's Type 0891A. It often also has a hangar deck for the storage and maintenance of rotorwing aircraft.

Pure helicopter carriers are difficult to define in the 21st century. The advent of STOVL aircraft such as the Harrier jump jet, and now the F-35, have complicated the classification; the United States Navy's {{sclass|Wasp|amphibious assault ship|4}}, for instance, carries six to eight Harriers as well as over 20 helicopters.{{Cite web |title=LHD Wasp Class Amphibious Assault Ships |url=https://www.naval-technology.com/projects/wasp/ |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=Naval Technology |language=en-US}} Only smaller carriers unable to operate the Harrier, and older, pre-Harrier-era carriers, can be regarded as true helicopter carriers. In many cases, other carriers, able to operate STOVL aircraft, are classified as "light aircraft carriers". Other vessels, such as the Wasp class, are also capable of embarking troops such as marines and landing them ashore; they are classified as landing helicopter docks.

Helicopter carriers have been used as anti-submarine warfare carriers and amphibious assault ships.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-12 |title=Depth from Above: Reinventing Carrier ASW {{!}} Center for International Maritime Security |url=https://cimsec.org/depth-from-above-reinventing-carrier-asw/ |access-date=2023-11-28 |language=en-US}}

{{HMS|Hermes|R12|6}} and two of her sisters were 22,000 ton fleet carriers converted to "commando carriers" only able to operate helicopters. Hermes was later converted to a STOVL carrier.

Helicopter carriers by country

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
Country

! Navy

! In service

! In reserve

! Fitting out

! Under construction

{{ALG}}{{naval|Algeria}}1000
{{AUS}}{{naval|Australia}}2000
{{BRA}}{{naval|Brazil}}1000
{{CHN}}{{naval|PRC}}3102 (4 planned)
{{EGY}}{{navy|Egypt}}2000
{{FRA}}{{naval|France}}3000
{{IND}}{{navy|India}}0000 (4 planned total)
{{ITA}}{{naval|Italy}}2001
{{JPN}}{{navy|Japan}}4000
{{PRT}}

|{{Navy|Portugal}}

|0

|0

|0

|1

{{QAT}}

|{{Navy|Qatar}}

|0

|0

|1

|0

{{RUS}}{{navy|Russia}}0002 (3 planned total)
{{KOR}}{{navy|South Korea}}2000
{{ESP}}{{navy|Spain}}1000
{{THA}}{{navy|Thailand}}1000
{{TUR}}{{naval|Turkey}}1000
{{USA}}{{naval|United States}}9302 (11 planned total)

Helicopter carriers

=Helicopter carriers currently in service=

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"

! Country

! Name

! Length

! Tonnage (MT)

! Class

! Propulsion

! Type

! Classification

! Commission

{{Flag|Algeria}}

| {{ship|Algerian amphibious transport dock|Kalaat Béni Abbès|474|2}}

| 143 {{Convert|143|m|ft|abbr=on}}

| 008800 8800 t

| Improved San Giusto
(modified {{sclass|San Giorgio|amphibious transport dock|4}})

| Conventional

| STOVL

| Amphibious transport dock{{efn|name=improvedsangiusto|Qualifies as a helicopter carrier due to its flight deck and its hangar’s ability to store and service helicopters}}

| {{Dts|4 September 2014}}

{{flag|Australia}}

| {{HMAS|Canberra|L02|2}}

| 230.82 {{convert|230.82|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| 027500 {{cvt|27500|MT|LT}}

| {{sclass|Canberra|landing helicopter dock|5}}
(modified {{sclass|Juan Carlos I|amphibious assault ship|5}})

| Conventional

| STOVL

| Landing helicopter dock

| {{dts|28 November 2014}}

{{flag|Australia}}

| {{HMAS|Adelaide|L01|2}}

| 230.82 {{convert|230.82|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| 027500 {{cvt|27500|MT|LT}}

| {{sclass|Canberra|landing helicopter dock|5}}
(modified {{sclass|Juan Carlos I|amphibious assault ship|5}})

| Conventional

| STOVL

| Landing helicopter dock

| {{dts|4 December 2015}}

{{flag|Brazil}}

| {{ship|Brazilian aircraft carrier|Atlântico

2}}

| 203.4 {{convert|203.4|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| 021500 {{cvt|21500|MT|LT}}

| {{HMS|Ocean|L12|2}}

| Conventional

| VTOL

| Multipurpose helicopter carrier

| {{dts|29 June 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.janes.com/article/81405/brazil-commissions-helicopter-carrier |title=Brazil commissions helicopter carrier |work=www.janes.com |date=29 June 2018}}

{{flag|China}}

|Hainan

|{{convert|232|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

|{{cvt|36000|MT|LT}}

|Type 075 (NATO reporting name Yushen class)

|Conventional

|VTOL

|Landing helicopter dock

|23 April 2021{{Cite web|last=Vavasseur|first=Xavier|date=2021-04-24|title=China Commissions a Type 055 DDG, a Type 075 LHD and a Type 094 SSBN in a Single Day|url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/04/china-commissions-a-type-055-ddg-a-type-075-lhd-and-a-type-094-ssbn-in-a-single-day/|access-date=2021-04-25|website=Naval News|language=en-US}}

{{flag|China}}

|Guangxi

|{{convert|232|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

|{{cvt|36000|MT|LT}}

|Type 075 (NATO reporting name Yushen class)

|Conventional

|VTOL

|Landing helicopter dock

|26 December 2021{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qC8mvKDsxUg/|title = 12月26日正式服役！ 4萬噸"廣西艦"入列東部戰區，16個月創造奇蹟，預示關鍵時間點，針對台海詭譎，一錘定音！【一號哨所】|website = YouTube| date=26 December 2021 }}{{Cite web|title=New pictures released of Chinese Type 075 LHD Guangxi|url=https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/2021/november/11063-new-pictures-released-of-chinese-type-075-lhd-guangxi.html|access-date=2021-12-09|website=Navy Recognition|date=26 November 2021 |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/11/chinas-third-type-075-lhd-starts-sea-trials/|title = China's Third Type 075 LHD Starts Sea Trials|date = 28 November 2021}}

{{flag|China}}

|Anhui

|{{convert|232|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

|{{cvt|36000|MT|LT}}

|Type 075 (NATO reporting name Yushen class)

|Conventional

|VTOL

|Landing helicopter dock

|1 October 2022{{Cite web |last=Vavasseur |first=Xavier |date=2022-10-01 |title=China's 3rd Type 075 LHD Anhui 安徽 Commissioned With PLAN |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/10/chinas-3rd-type-075-lhd-anhui-%E5%AE%89%E5%BE%BD-commissioned-with-plan/ |access-date=2024-01-24 |website=Naval News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-11-11 |title=Chinese navy's new warship takes part in 'combat-oriented training' |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3199351/chinese-navys-new-amphibious-assault-ship-takes-part-combat-oriented-training |access-date=2024-01-24 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}

{{flag|China}}

| Shichang

| 125 {{convert|125|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| 09500 {{cvt|9500|MT|LT}}

| Type 0891A

| Conventional

| VTOL

| Training ship

| {{dts|January 1997}}

{{flag|Egypt}}

|{{ship|Egyptian ship|Gamal Abdel Nasser

2}}

| 199 {{convert|199|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| 021300 {{cvt|21300|MT|LT}}

| {{sclass|Mistral|amphibious assault ship|5}}

|Conventional

|VTOL

|Landing helicopter dock

|{{dts|2 June 2016}}{{cite news |url=http://en.dcnsgroup.com/news/dcns-delivers-the-second-mistral-class-helicopter-carrier-to-the-egyptian-navy-the-lhd-anwar-el-sadat/|title=DCNS delivers the second Mistral-class helicopter carrier to the Egyptian Navy, the LHD Anwar El Sadat|date=16 September 2016}}

{{flag|Egypt}}

| {{ship|Egyptian ship|Anwar El Sadat

2}}

| 199 {{convert|199|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| 021300 {{cvt|21300|MT|LT}}

| {{sclass|Mistral|amphibious assault ship|5}}

|Conventional

|VTOL

|Landing helicopter dock

|{{dts|16 September 2016}}

{{flag|France}}

| {{ship|French ship|Mistral|L9013|2}}

| 199 {{convert|199|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| 021300 {{cvt|21300|MT|LT}}

| {{sclass|Mistral|amphibious assault ship|5}}

| Conventional

| VTOL

| Landing helicopter dock

| {{dts|December 2005}}

{{flag|France}}

| {{ship|French ship|Tonnerre|L9014|2}}

| 199 {{convert|199|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| 021300 {{cvt|21300|MT|LT}}

| {{sclass|Mistral|amphibious assault ship|5}}

| Conventional

| VTOL

| Landing helicopter dock

| {{dts|December 2006}}

{{flag|France}}

| {{ship|French ship|Dixmude|L9015|2}}

| 199 {{convert|199|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| 021300 {{cvt|21300|MT|LT}}

| {{sclass|Mistral|amphibious assault ship|5}}

| Conventional

| VTOL

| Landing helicopter dock

| {{dts|December 2011}}

{{flag|Japan}}

| {{JS|Kaga

2}}

| 248 {{convert|248|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| 027000 {{cvt|27000|MT|LT}}

| {{sclass|Izumo|helicopter destroyer|5}}

| Conventional

| VTOL

| Helicopter destroyer

| {{dts|22 March 2017}}

{{flag|Japan}}

| {{JS|Izumo

2}}

| 248 {{convert|248|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| 027000 {{cvt|27000|MT|LT}}

| {{sclass|Izumo|helicopter destroyer|5}}

| Conventional

| VTOL

| Helicopter destroyer

| {{dts|25 March 2015}}

{{flag|Japan}}

| {{JS|Hyūga

2}}

| 197 {{convert|197|m|ftin|abbr=on}}{{cite web|title=Hyuga Class|url=https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/formal/gallery/ships/dd/hyuga/181.html|website=JMSDF Gallery|publisher=JMSDF|language=ja|access-date=27 February 2015|archive-date=10 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310034933/http://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/formal/gallery/ships/dd/hyuga/181.html|url-status=dead}}

| 013950 {{cvt|19000|MT|LT}}

| {{sclass|Hyūga|helicopter destroyer|5}}

| Conventional

| VTOL

| Helicopter destroyer

| {{dts|18 March 2009}}

{{flag|Japan}}

| {{JS|Ise

2}}

| 197 {{convert|197|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| 013950 {{cvt|19000|MT|LT}}

| {{sclass|Hyūga|helicopter destroyer|5}}

| Conventional

| VTOL

| Helicopter destroyer

| {{dts|16 March 2011}}

{{flag|South Korea}}

| {{ROKS|Dokdo|LPH-6111|2}}

| 199 {{convert|199|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| 018800 {{cvt|18800|MT|LT}}

| {{sclass|Dokdo|amphibious assault ship|5}}

| Conventional

| VTOL

| Landing platform helicopter

| {{dts|3 July 2007}}

{{flag|South Korea}}

| {{ROKS|Marado|LPH-6112|2}}

| 199 {{convert|199|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| 018800 {{cvt|18800|MT|LT}}

| {{sclass|Dokdo|amphibious assault ship|5}}

| Conventional

| VTOL

| Landing platform helicopter

| 28 June 2021

{{flag|Spain}}

| {{ship|Spanish ship|Juan Carlos I|L61|2}}

| 230.82 {{convert|230.82|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| 027079 {{cvt|27079|MT|LT}}

| {{sclass|Juan Carlos I|amphibious assault ship|5}}

| Conventional

| STOVL

| Landing helicopter dock

| {{dts|30 September 2010}}

{{flag|Thailand}}

| {{HTMS|Chakri Naruebet

2}}

| 182.65 {{convert|182.65|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| 11486 {{cvt|11486|MT|LT}}

| {{ship|Spanish aircraft carrier|Príncipe de Asturias

2}}

| Conventional

| STOVL

| Helicopter carrier ("Light aircraft carrier")

| {{dts|27 March 1997}}

{{Flag|Turkey}}

|{{ship|TCG|Anadolu

2}}

|{{cvt|232|m|ftin}}

|{{cvt|27079|MT|LT}}

|{{ship|TCG|Anadolu

2}}

|Conventional

|STOVL

|Landing helicopter dock

|10 April 2023

{{flag|US}}

| {{USS|America|LHA-6|2}}

| 257.3 {{convert|257.3|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| 045000 {{cvt|45000|MT|LT}}

| {{sclass|America|amphibious assault ship|5}}[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/carriers.htm World Wide Aircraft Carriers]

| Conventional

| VTOL

| Landing helicopter assault

| {{dts|11 October 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://navylive.dodlive.mil/2014/10/10/inside-uss-america-lha-6/|title=America 'Sails Away' for Maiden Transit to San Diego Homeport.|publisher=United States Navy|date=10 October 2014}}

{{flag|US}}

| {{USS|Tripoli|LHA-7|2}}

| 257.3 {{convert|257.3|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| 045000 {{cvt|45000|MT|LT}}

| {{sclass|America|amphibious assault ship|5}}

| Conventional

| VTOL

| Landing helicopter assault

| {{dts|15 July 2020}}

{{flag|US}}

| {{USS|Wasp|LHD-1|2}}

| 257 {{convert|257|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| 040532 {{cvt|40532|MT|LT}}

| {{sclass|Wasp|amphibious assault ship|5}}

| Conventional

| VTOL

| Landing helicopter dock

| {{dts|29 July 1989}}

{{flag|US}}

| {{USS|Essex|LHD-2|2}}

| 257 {{convert|257|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| 040650 {{cvt|40650|MT|LT}}

| {{sclass|Wasp|amphibious assault ship|5}}

| Conventional

| VTOL

| Landing helicopter dock

| {{dts|17 October 1992}}

{{flag|US}}

| {{USS|Kearsarge|LHD-3|2}}

| 257 {{convert|257|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| 040500 {{cvt|40500|MT|LT}}

| {{sclass|Wasp|amphibious assault ship|5}}

| Conventional

| VTOL

| Landing helicopter dock

| {{dts|16 October 1993}}

{{flag|US}}

| {{USS|Boxer|LHD-4|2}}

| 257 {{convert|257|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| 040722 {{cvt|40722|MT|LT}}

| {{sclass|Wasp|amphibious assault ship|5}}

| Conventional

| VTOL

| Landing helicopter dock

| {{dts|11 February 1995}}

{{flag|US}}

| {{USS|Bataan|LHD-5|2}}

| 257 {{convert|257|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| 040358 {{cvt|40358|MT|LT}}

| {{sclass|Wasp|amphibious assault ship|5}}

| Conventional

| VTOL

| Landing helicopter dock

| {{dts|20 September 1997}}

{{flag|US}}

| {{USS|Iwo Jima|LHD-7|2}}

| 257 {{convert|257|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| 040530 {{cvt|40530|MT|LT}}

| {{sclass|Wasp|amphibious assault ship|5}}

| Conventional

| VTOL

| Landing helicopter dock

| {{dts|30 June 2001}}

{{flag|US}}

| {{USS|Makin Island|LHD-8|2}}

| 258 {{convert|258|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| 041649 {{cvt|41649|MT|LT}}

| {{sclass|Wasp|amphibious assault ship|5}}

| Conventional

| VTOL

| Landing helicopter dock

| {{dts|24 October 2009}}

=Retired helicopter carriers=

  • {{Flagicon|United Kingdom}} {{HMS|Albion|R07|2}} (Royal Navy) – converted from light carrier and operating in helicopter carrier role from 1962 to 1973
  • {{Flagicon|Italy}} {{ship|Italian cruiser|Andrea Doria||2}} (Italian Navy) – an {{sclass|Andrea Doria|cruiser|0}} helicopter cruiser active from 1964 to 1992
  • {{flagicon|US}} {{USS|Bonhomme Richard|LHD-6|2}} (United States Navy) – {{sclass|Wasp|amphibious assault ship|0}} landing helicopter dock, active 1998–2020
  • {{Flagicon|United Kingdom}} {{HMS|Bulwark|R08|2}} (Royal Navy) – converted from light carrier and operating in helicopter carrier role from 1960 to 1981
  • {{flagicon|Italy}} {{ship|Italian cruiser|Caio Duilio||2}} (Italian Navy) - an Andrea Doria-class helicopter cruiser active from 1964 to 1989
  • {{Flagicon|United States}} {{USCGC|Cobb|WPG-181|2}} (US Coast Guard), decommissioned in 1946 – world's first helicopter carrier.
  • {{Flagicon|United Kingdom}} {{HMS|Illustrious|R06|2}} (Royal Navy) – an {{sclass|Invincible|aircraft carrier|0}} light aircraft carrier, which operated as a helicopter carrier when HMS Ocean was being refitted.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-13814437 |title=BBC News – Warship HMS Illustrious starts sea trials |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2011-06-17 |access-date=2014-04-20}}
  • {{Flagicon|United States}} {{USS|Iwo Jima|LPH-2|2}} (United States Navy) – lead of the seven-ship {{sclass|Iwo Jima|amphibious assault ship|4}}, active from the early 1960s to the early 2000s
  • {{Flagicon|France}} {{ship|French cruiser|Jeanne d'Arc|R97|2}} (French Navy), decommissioned in 2010
  • {{Flagicon|USSR}} {{ship|Soviet helicopter carrier|Leningrad||2}} (Soviet Navy) – second of the two-ship {{sclass|Moskva|helicopter carrier|4}} - active 1969–1991
  • {{Flagicon|USSR}} {{ship|Soviet helicopter carrier|Moskva||2}} (Soviet Navy) – lead of the two-ship Moskva class, active 1967–1991
  • {{Flagicon|United Kingdom}} ex-{{HMS|Ocean|L12|2}} (Royal Navy) – helicopter carrier 1998–2018, decommissioned March 2018.
  • Sold to Brazil in February 2018, renamed Atlântico
  • {{Flagicon|Italy}} {{ship|Italian cruiser|Vittorio Veneto||2}} (Italian Navy) – a helicopter cruiser active from 1969 to 2003

See also

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Commons category-inline|Helicopter carriers}}

{{Warship types of the 19th & 20th centuries}}

Category:Aircraft carriers

Category:Aircraft carriers by type