Amphibious transport dock

The interior configuration of the United States Navy's San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock shows features common to most LPDs

An amphibious transport dock, also called a landing platform dock (LPD), ^[1] is an amphibious warfare ship, a warship that embarks, transports, and lands elements of a landing force for expeditionary warfare missions. ^[2] 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.

Amphibious transport docks perform the mission of amphibious transports, amphibious cargo ships, and the older dock landing ships (LSD) by incorporating both a flight deck and a well deck that can be ballasted and deballasted to support landing craft or amphibious vehicles. The main difference between LSDs and LPDs is that while both have helicopter landing decks, the LPD also has hangar facilities for protection and maintenance. ^[3] In the United States Navy, the newer class of LPD has succeeded the older classes of LSDs, and both the Navy and United States Marine Corps are looking to the LPD to be the basis of their new LX(R) program to replace their LSDs. ^[4]

LPD classes

Country	Class	In service	Commissioned	Length	Beam	Draft	Displacement (mt)	Note	Image
Algeria	Kalaat Béni Abbès	1	2015	143 m (469 ft)	21.5 m (71 ft)	5.3 m (17 ft)	9,000	Improved San Giorgio-class built in Italy.
Australia	Choules	1	2011	176.6 m (579 ft)	26.9 m (88 ft)	5.8 m (19 ft)	16,160	Ex-British Largs Bay (L3006) sold to Australian Navy in 2011, renamed Choules (L100).
Brazil	Bahia	1	2016	168 m (551 ft)	23.5 m (77 ft)	5.2 m (17 ft)	12,000	Ex-French Siroco (L9012) sold to Brazil Navy in 2015, renamed Bahia (G40).
Chile	Sargento Aldea	1	2011	168 m (551 ft)	23.5 m (77 ft)	5.2 m (17 ft)	12,000	Ex-French Foudre (L9011) sold to Chile Navy in 2011, renamed Sargento Aldea (LSDH-91).
China	Type 071 (Yuzhao)	8	2007	210 m (690 ft)	28 m (92 ft)	7 m (23 ft)	25,000
India	Jalashwa	1	2007	173.7 m (570 ft)	32 m (105 ft)	6.7 m (22 ft)	16,600	Ex-USS Trenton (LPD-14) sold to the Indian Navy in 2007, renamed INS Jalashwa (L41).
Indonesia	Makassar	5	2007	122–125 m (400–410 ft)	22 m (72 ft)	4.9 m (16 ft)	11,394	Designed by Daesun Shipbuilding & Engineering Co., first two units were built in South Korea.
Italy	San Giorgio	3	1987	133 m (436 ft)	20.5 m (67 ft)		7,650 (San Giorgio and San Marco) 7,980 (San Giusto)
Japan	Ōsumi	3	1998	178 m (584 ft)	25.8 m (85 ft)	6.0 m (19.7 ft)	14,000
Myanmar	Makassar	1	2019	122–125 m (400–410 ft)	22 m (72 ft)	4.9 m (16 ft)	11,394	UMS Moattama, built in South Korea.
Netherlands	Rotterdam	2	1997	166 m (545 ft)	27 m (89 ft)	6.0 m (19.7 ft)	12,750 (Rotterdam) 16,800 (Johan de Witt)
Peru	Makassar	2	on order [5]	122 m (400 ft)	22 m (72 ft)	4.9 m (16 ft)	11,394	Built in Peru.
Philippines	Tarlac	2	2016 [6]	123 m (404 ft)	21.8 m (72 ft)	5.0 m (16.4 ft)	11,583	Subclass of the Makassar-class built in Indonesia.
Qatar	Al Fulk	1	fitting out	143 m (469 ft)	21.5 m (71 ft)	5.3 m (17 ft)	9,000	Improved San Giorgio-class built in Italy.
Singapore	Endurance	4	2000	141 m (463 ft)	21 m (69 ft)	5.0 m (16.4 ft)	8,500
Spain	Galicia	2	1998	166 m (545 ft)	25 m (82 ft)	5.8 m (19 ft)	13,815
Taiwan	Yushan	1	2021	153 m (502 ft) [7]	23 m (75 ft) [7]	6.0 m (19.7 ft) [7]	10,600 [7]
Thailand	Angthong	1	2012	141 m (463 ft)	21 m (69 ft)	5.0 m (16.4 ft)	8,500	Based on the Endurance-class, built in Singapore.
	Chang	1	2023	213 m (699 ft)	28 m (92 ft)	7 m (23 ft)	22,000	Export version of the Chinese Type 071 amphibious transport dock.
United Kingdom	Albion	2	2003	176 m (577 ft)	28.9 m (95 ft)	7.1 m (23 ft)	19,560
	Bay	3	2007	176.6 m (579 ft)	26.9 m (88 ft)	5.8 m (19 ft)	16,160
United States	San Antonio	12	2006	208 m (682 ft)	32 m (105 ft)	7.0 m (23.0 ft)	25,300

Decommissioned

Country	Class	Out of service	Commissioned	Length	Beam	Draft	Displacement (mt)	Note
France	Ouragan	2	1963–2007	149 m (489 ft)	21.5 m (71 ft)	5.4 m (18 ft)	8,500
	Bougainville	1	1988–2008	113.50 m (372.4 ft)	17.00 m (55.77 ft)	4.24 m (13.9 ft)	4,870
	Foudre	2	1990–2015	168 m (551 ft)	23.5 m (77 ft)	5.2 m (17 ft)	12,000	Sold to Chile and Brazil.
United States	Raleigh	3	1962–2005	159 m (522 ft)	30 m (98 ft)	7.0 m (23.0 ft)	13,818	USS La Salle (LPD-3) converted from Landing Platform Dock to Auxiliary Flagship and redesignated as USS La Salle (AGF-3) in 1972.
	Austin	3	1965–2007	173 m (568 ft)	32 m (105 ft)	6.7 m (22 ft)	16,914
	Austin (Cleveland subclass)	7	1967–2014	173 m (568 ft)	32 m (105 ft)	6.7 m (22 ft)	16,914	Some sources consider Cleveland (seven built) to be a part of the Austin class. USS Coronado (LPD-11) converted from Landing Platform Dock to Auxiliary Flagship and redesignated as USS Coronado (AGF-11) in 1980.
	Austin (Trenton subclass)	2	1971–2017	173 m (568 ft)	32 m (105 ft)	6.7 m (22 ft)	16,914	Some sources consider Trenton (two built) ships to be a part of the Austin class. Ex-USS Trenton (LPD-14) sold to the Indian Navy and in active service with Indian Navy. USS Ponce (LPD-15) converted (AFSB(I)-15).
Indonesia	Tanjung Dalpele	1	2003-2007	122 m (400 ft)	22 m (72 ft)	4.9 m (16 ft)	11,394	Converted to a hospital ship in 2007, renamed KRI Dr Soeharso (990). [8]
United Kingdom	Fearless	2	1965-2002	158.5 m (520 ft)	24.4 m (80 ft)	6.3 m (21 ft)	16,950	Scrapped between 2002 and 2008. HMS Ocean provided amphibious cover until the two ships of the Albion class were available.

Gallery

• 
  The well deck of HNLMS Rotterdam
• 
  Aviation hangar of the Rotterdam-class HNLMS Johan de Witt
• 
  Stern of USS Juneau ballasted for amphibious operations
• 
  The open well deck of the French ship Siroco
• 
  The well deck of USS San Antonio

See also

• Amphibious warfare ship
• Dock landing ship
• Landing Platform Helicopter
• List of amphibious warfare ships
• List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships § Landing Platform Dock (LPD)

References

1. Royal Navy. "Landing Platform Dock". Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
2. "Northrop wins contract add-on for 10th LPD-class amphibious transport dock ship". The Mississippi Press. 30 April 2010.
3. "World Wide Landing Ship Dock/Landing Platform Dock" . Retrieved 2012-05-17.
4. "[USMC General] Amos: Replace LSD amphib fleet with LPDs". military.com. 9 April 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-07-13. Retrieved 2013-07-13.
6. "Philippine Navy selects PT PAL for SSV procurement - IHS Jane's 360". Archived from the original on 2014-01-14. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
7. "Taiwan's First LPD Launched by Local Shipbuilder CSBC". 13 April 2021.
8. Parameswaran, Prashanth (2 February 2016). "Indonesia Deploys Vessel on First Ever Overseas Voyage". The Diplomat. Retrieved 1 May 2025.