Helicopter carrier

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HMAS Canberra. Most modern helicopter carriers are amphibious assault ships. HMAS Canberra in July 2019.jpg
HMAS Canberra. Most modern helicopter carriers are amphibious assault ships.

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 [1] of the Royal Navy (RN), or extend only partway, usually aft, as in the Soviet Navy's Moskva class [2] or in the Chinese Navy's Type 0891A. It often also has a hangar deck for the storage and maintenance of rotorwing aircraft.

Contents

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. [3] 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. [3]

Helicopter carriers have been used as anti-submarine warfare carriers and amphibious assault ships. [4]

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

CountryNavyIn serviceIn reserveFitting outUnder construction
Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria Naval Ensign of Algeria.svg  Algerian National Navy 1000
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Naval Ensign of Australia.svg  Royal Australian Navy 2000
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazilian Navy 1000
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Naval ensign of China.svg  People's Liberation Army Navy 3102 (4 planned)
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt Flag of the Egyptian Navy.svg  Egyptian Navy 2000
Flag of France.svg  France Civil and Naval Ensign of France.svg  French Navy 3000
Flag of India.svg  India Naval Ensign of India.svg  Indian Navy 0000 (4 planned total)
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Naval Ensign of Italy.svg  Italian Navy 2001
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Naval Ensign of Japan.svg  Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force 4000
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal Naval Jack of Portugal.svg  Portuguese Navy 0001
Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatari Emiri Navy 0010
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia Naval Ensign of Russia.svg  Russian Navy 0002 (3 planned total)
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea Flag of the Republic of Korea Navy.svg  Republic of Korea Navy 2000
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Flag of Spain.svg  Spanish Navy 1000
Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand Flag of the Royal Thai Navy.svg  Royal Thai Navy 1000
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkish Naval Forces 1000
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Flag of the United States.svg  United States Navy 9302 (11 planned total)

Helicopter carriers

Helicopter carriers currently in service

CountryNameLength Tonnage (MT)ClassPropulsionTypeClassificationCommission
Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria Kalaat Béni Abbès 143 m (469 ft) 8800 tImproved San Giusto
(modified San Giorgio class)		 Conventional STOVL Amphibious transport dock [a] 4 September 2014
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Canberra 230.82 m (757 ft 3 in)27,500 t (27,100 long tons) Canberra
(modified Juan Carlos I)		Conventional STOVL Landing helicopter dock28 November 2014
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Adelaide 230.82 m (757 ft 3 in)27,500 t (27,100 long tons) Canberra
(modified Juan Carlos I)		Conventional STOVL Landing helicopter dock4 December 2015
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil Atlântico 203.4 m (667 ft 4 in)21,500 t (21,200 long tons) Ocean Conventional VTOL Multipurpose helicopter carrier29 June 2018 [5]
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Hainan 232 m (761 ft 2 in)36,000 t (35,000 long tons) Type 075 (NATO reporting name Yushen class)Conventional VTOL Landing helicopter dock23 April 2021 [6]
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Guangxi 232 m (761 ft 2 in)36,000 t (35,000 long tons) Type 075 (NATO reporting name Yushen class)Conventional VTOL Landing helicopter dock26 December 2021 [7] [8] [9]
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Anhui 232 m (761 ft 2 in)36,000 t (35,000 long tons) Type 075 (NATO reporting name Yushen class)Conventional VTOL Landing helicopter dock1 October 2022 [10] [11]
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Shichang 125 m (410 ft 1 in)9,500 t (9,300 long tons) Type 0891A Conventional VTOL Training shipJanuary 1997
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt Gamal Abdel Nasser 199 m (652 ft 11 in)21,300 t (21,000 long tons) Mistral Conventional VTOL Landing helicopter dock2 June 2016 [12]
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt Anwar El Sadat 199 m (652 ft 11 in)21,300 t (21,000 long tons) Mistral Conventional VTOL Landing helicopter dock16 September 2016
Flag of France.svg  France Mistral 199 m (652 ft 11 in)21,300 t (21,000 long tons) Mistral Conventional VTOL Landing helicopter dockDecember 2005
Flag of France.svg  France Tonnerre 199 m (652 ft 11 in)21,300 t (21,000 long tons) Mistral Conventional VTOL Landing helicopter dockDecember 2006
Flag of France.svg  France Dixmude 199 m (652 ft 11 in)21,300 t (21,000 long tons) Mistral Conventional VTOL Landing helicopter dockDecember 2011
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Kaga 248 m (813 ft 8 in)27,000 t (27,000 long tons) Izumo Conventional VTOL Helicopter destroyer22 March 2017
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Izumo 248 m (813 ft 8 in)27,000 t (27,000 long tons) Izumo Conventional VTOL Helicopter destroyer25 March 2015
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Hyūga 197 m (646 ft 4 in) [13] 19,000 t (19,000 long tons) Hyūga Conventional VTOL Helicopter destroyer18 March 2009
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Ise 197 m (646 ft 4 in) [13] 19,000 t (19,000 long tons) Hyūga Conventional VTOL Helicopter destroyer16 March 2011
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea Dokdo 199 m (652 ft 11 in)18,800 t (18,500 long tons) Dokdo Conventional VTOL Landing platform helicopter 3 July 2007
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea Marado 199 m (652 ft 11 in)18,800 t (18,500 long tons) Dokdo Conventional VTOL Landing platform helicopter28 June 2021
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Juan Carlos I 230.82 m (757 ft 3 in)27,079 t (26,651 long tons) Juan Carlos I Conventional STOVL Landing helicopter dock30 September 2010
Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand Chakri Naruebet 182.65 m (599 ft 3 in)11,486 t (11,305 long tons) Príncipe de Asturias Conventional STOVL Helicopter carrier ("Light aircraft carrier")27 March 1997
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey Anadolu 232 m (761 ft 2 in)27,079 t (26,651 long tons) Anadolu Conventional STOVL Landing helicopter dock 10 April 2023
Flag of the United States.svg  US America 257.3 m (844 ft 2 in)45,000 t (44,000 long tons) America [14] Conventional VTOL Landing helicopter assault 11 October 2014 [15]
Flag of the United States.svg  US Tripoli 257.3 m (844 ft 2 in)45,000 t (44,000 long tons) America Conventional VTOL Landing helicopter assault15 July 2020
Flag of the United States.svg  US Wasp 257 m (843 ft 2 in)40,532 t (39,892 long tons) Wasp [14] Conventional VTOL Landing helicopter dock29 July 1989
Flag of the United States.svg  US Essex 257 m (843 ft 2 in)40,650 t (40,010 long tons) Wasp Conventional VTOL Landing helicopter dock17 October 1992
Flag of the United States.svg  US Kearsarge 257 m (843 ft 2 in)40,500 t (39,900 long tons) Wasp Conventional VTOL Landing helicopter dock16 October 1993
Flag of the United States.svg  US Boxer 257 m (843 ft 2 in)40,722 t (40,079 long tons) Wasp Conventional VTOL Landing helicopter dock11 February 1995
Flag of the United States.svg  US Bataan 257 m (843 ft 2 in)40,358 t (39,721 long tons) Wasp Conventional VTOL Landing helicopter dock20 September 1997
Flag of the United States.svg  US Iwo Jima 257 m (843 ft 2 in)40,530 t (39,890 long tons) Wasp Conventional VTOL Landing helicopter dock30 June 2001
Flag of the United States.svg  US Makin Island 258 m (846 ft 5 in)41,649 t (40,991 long tons) Wasp Conventional VTOL Landing helicopter dock24 October 2009

Retired helicopter carriers

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Qualifies as a helicopter carrier due to its flight deck and its hangar’s ability to store and service helicopters

References

  1. ↑ "HMS Ocean (LPH01) Helicopter Carrier". Naval Technology. 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2014-04-20.
  2. ↑ "Overview | Moskva Class | Collections | Research | National Cold War Exhibition". www.nationalcoldwarexhibition.org. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  3. 1 2 "LHD Wasp Class Amphibious Assault Ships". Naval Technology. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  4. ↑ "Depth from Above: Reinventing Carrier ASW | Center for International Maritime Security". 2022-10-12. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  5. ↑ "Brazil commissions helicopter carrier". www.janes.com. 29 June 2018.
  6. ↑ Vavasseur, Xavier (2021-04-24). "China Commissions a Type 055 DDG, a Type 075 LHD and a Type 094 SSBN in a Single Day". Naval News. Retrieved 2021-04-25.
  7. ↑ "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】". YouTube . 26 December 2021.
  8. ↑ "New pictures released of Chinese Type 075 LHD Guangxi". Navy Recognition. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  9. ↑ "China's Third Type 075 LHD Starts Sea Trials". 28 November 2021.
  10. ↑ Vavasseur, Xavier (2022-10-01). "China's 3rd Type 075 LHD Anhui 安徽 Commissioned With PLAN". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  11. ↑ "Chinese navy's new warship takes part in 'combat-oriented training'". South China Morning Post. 2022-11-11. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  12. ↑ "DCNS delivers the second Mistral-class helicopter carrier to the Egyptian Navy, the LHD Anwar El Sadat". 16 September 2016.
  13. 1 2 "Hyuga Class". JMSDF Gallery (in Japanese). JMSDF. Archived from the original on 10 March 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  14. 1 2 World Wide Aircraft Carriers
  15. ↑ "America 'Sails Away' for Maiden Transit to San Diego Homeport". United States Navy. 10 October 2014.
  16. ↑ "BBC News – Warship HMS Illustrious starts sea trials". Bbc.co.uk. 2011-06-17. Retrieved 2014-04-20.

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