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Helicopter carrier

Also found in: Acronyms, Encyclopedia.
JDS Hyūga, a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Hyūga-class helicopter destroyer

A helicopter carrier is a type of aircraft carrier whose primary purpose is to operate helicopters. A helicopter carrier has a large flight deck that occupies a large part of the ship, which can extend the full length of the ship like HMS Ocean[1] of the Royal Navy (RN), or only partway, usually aft, as in the Soviet Navy's Moskva class, the Chinese Navy's Type 0891A or the Royal Fleet Auxiliary's (RFA) RFA Argus. It often also has a hangar deck for the storage of 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 Wasp class, for instance, carries six to eight Harriers as well as over 20 helicopters. 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 amphibious assault ships.

Helicopter carriers have been used as anti-submarine warfare carriers and amphibious assault ships.

HMS Hermes 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

Country Navy In service In reserve Under construction
Australia Royal Australian Navy 2 0 0
Brazil Brazilian Navy 1 0 0
China People's Liberation Army Navy 0 0 3 (4 planned)
Egypt Egyptian Navy 2 0 0
France French Navy 3 0 0
India Indian Navy 0 0 0 (4 planned total)
Japan Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force 4 0 0
Russia Russian Navy 0 0 2 (3 planned total)
South Korea Republic of Korea Navy 1 0 1
Spain Royal Spanish Navy 1 0 0
Thailand Royal Thai Navy 1 0 0
Turkey Turkish Naval Forces 0 0 1
United States United States Navy 10 3 1 (11 planned total)

Helicopter carriers

Helicopter carriers currently in use

Country Name (Hull number) Length Tonnage (mt) Class Propulsion Type Classification Commission
Australia Canberra (L02) 230.82 m (757.3 ft) 27,500 mt Canberra
(modified Juan Carlos I) 		Conventional STOVL Landing Helicopter Dock 28 November 2014
Australia Adelaide (L01) 230.82 m (757.3 ft) 27,500 mt Canberra
(modified Juan Carlos I) 		Conventional STOVL Landing Helicopter Dock 4 December 2015
Brazil PHM Atlântico (A140) 203.4 m (667 ft) 21,500 mt single ship Conventional VTOL Multipurpose Aircraft Carrier 29 June 2018[2]
China Type 0891A Shichang (82) 125 m (410 ft) 9,500 mt Shichang Conventional VTOL Training Ship January 1997
Egypt Gamal Abdel Nasser (L1010) 199 m (653 ft) 21,300 mt Mistral Conventional VTOL Landing Helicopter Dock 2 June 2016[3]
Egypt Anwar El Sadat (L1020) 199 m (653 ft) 21,300 mt Mistral Conventional VTOL Landing Helicopter Dock 16 September 2016
France Mistral (L9013) 199 m (653 ft) 21,300 mt Mistral Conventional VTOL Landing Helicopter Dock December 2005
France Tonnerre (L9014) 199 m (653 ft) 21,300 mt Mistral Conventional VTOL Landing Helicopter Dock December 2006
France Dixmude (L9015) 199 m (653 ft) 21,300 mt Mistral Conventional VTOL Landing Helicopter Dock December 2011
Japan JS Kaga (DDH-184) 248 m (814 ft) 27,000 mt Izumo Conventional VTOL Helicopter destroyer 22 March 2017
Japan JS Izumo (DDH-183) 248 m (814 ft) 27,000 mt Izumo Conventional VTOL Helicopter destroyer 25 March 2015
Japan JS Hyūga (DDH-181) 197 m (646 ft)[4] 19,000 mt Hyūga Conventional VTOL Helicopter destroyer 18 March 2009
Japan JS Ise (DDH-182) 197 m (646 ft)[4] 19,000 mt Hyūga Conventional VTOL Helicopter destroyer 16 March 2011
South Korea Dokdo (LPH-6111) 199 m (653 ft) 18,800 mt Dokdo Conventional VTOL Landing Platform Helicopter 3 July 2007
Spain Juan Carlos I (L-61) 230.82 m (757.3 ft) 27,079 mt Juan Carlos I Conventional STOVL Landing Helicopter Dock 30 September 2010
UK Argus (A135)[5] 175.1 m (574 ft) 20,081 mt unique merchant conversion Conventional VTOL Aviation Training Ship 1 June 1988
US America (LHA-6) 257.3 m (844 ft) 45,000 mt America[6] Conventional STOVL Landing Helicopter Assault 11 October 2014[7]
US Tripoli (LHA-7) 257.3 m (844 ft) 45,000 mt America Conventional STOVL Landing Helicopter Assault 15 July 2020
US Wasp (LHD-1) 257 m (843 ft) 40,532 mt Wasp[6] Conventional STOVL Landing Helicopter Dock 29 July 1989
US Essex (LHD-2) 257 m (843 ft) 40,650 mt Wasp Conventional STOVL Landing Helicopter Dock 17 October 1992
US Kearsarge (LHD-3) 257 m (843 ft) 40,500 mt Wasp Conventional STOVL Landing Helicopter Dock 16 October 1993
US Boxer (LHD-4) 257 m (843 ft) 40,722 mt Wasp Conventional STOVL Landing Helicopter Dock 11 February 1995
US Bataan (LHD-5) 257 m (843 ft) 40,358 mt Wasp Conventional STOVL Landing Helicopter Dock 20 September 1997
US Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) 257 m (843 ft) 40,500 mt Wasp Conventional STOVL Landing Helicopter Dock 15 August 1998
US Iwo Jima (LHD-7) 257 m (843 ft) 40,530 mt Wasp Conventional STOVL Landing Helicopter Dock 30 June 2001
US Makin Island (LHD-8) 258 m (846 ft) 41,649 mt Wasp Conventional STOVL Landing Helicopter Dock 24 October 2009

Retired helicopter carriers

See also

  • Amphibious transport dock
  • Amphibious warfare ship
  • ASW carrier
  • Aviation-capable naval vessels
  • Landing helicopter assault
  • Landing platform helicopter
  • List of STOVL carriers

References

  1. ^ "HMS Ocean (LPH01) Helicopter Carrier". Naval Technology. 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2014-04-20.
  2. ^ "Brazil commissions helicopter carrier". www.janes.com. 29 June 2018.
  3. ^ "DCNS delivers the second Mistral-class helicopter carrier to the Egyptian Navy, the LHD Anwar El Sadat". 16 September 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Hyuga Class". JMSDF Gallery (in Japanese). JMSDF. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  5. ^ B. Ireland and F. Crosby (2011). The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Aircraft Carriers And Naval Aircraft. Hermes House. p. 189.
  6. ^ a b World Wide Aircraft Carriers
  7. ^ "America 'Sails Away' for Maiden Transit to San Diego Homeport". United States Navy. 10 October 2014.
  8. ^ "BBC News – Warship HMS Illustrious starts sea trials". Bbc.co.uk. 2011-06-17. Retrieved 2014-04-20.

External links

Media related to Helicopter carriers at Wikimedia Commons

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