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 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. 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.
LPD classes
Country/Territory Class In Length Beam Draft (mt) Note Image Kalaat Béni Abbès 1 2015 9,000 Improved San Giorgio-class built in Italy. HMAS Choules 1 2011 16,160 Ex-British Largs Bay (L3006) sold to Australian Navy in 2011, renamed Choules (L100). Bahia 1 2016 12,000 Ex-French Siroco (L9012) sold to Brazil Navy in 2015, renamed Bahia (G40). NDM Oiapoque 1 2025 19,560 Ex-British class ship HMS Bulwark sold to Brazil and renamed NDM Oiapoque in 2025. Sargento Aldea 1 2011 12,000 Ex-French Foudre (L9011) sold to Chile Navy in 2011, renamed Sargento Aldea (LSDH-91). Type 071 (Yuzhao) 8 2007 25,000 Jalashwa 1 2007 16,600 Ex-USS Trenton (LPD-14) sold to the Indian Navy in 2007, renamed INS Jalashwa (L41). 5 2007 11,394 Designed by Daesun & Engineering Co., first two units were built in South Korea. 3 1987 7,650 (San Giorgio and San Marco)7,980 (San Giusto) 3 1998 14,000 1 2019 11,394 UMS Moattama, built in South Korea. 2 1997 12,750 (RD)16,800 (JW) 2 2018 11,394 Built in Peru. 4 2016 11,583 Subclass of the Makassar-class built in Indonesia. 1 fitting out 9,000 Improved San Giorgio-class built in Italy. 4 2000 8,500 2 1998 13,815 1 2021 10,600 Angthong 1 2012 8,500 Based on the Endurance-class, built in Singapore. Chang 1 2023 22,000Export version of the Chinese Type 071 amphibious transport dock. 3 2007 16,160 12 2006 25,300
Decommissioned Country Class Out of service Length Beam Draft (mt) Note Image 2 1963–2007 8,500 1 1988–2008 4,870 2 1990–2015 12,000 Sold to Chile and Brazil. 1 2003-2007 11,394 Converted to a hospital ship in 2007, renamed KRI Dr Soeharso (990). Fearless 2 1965-2002 16,950 Scrapped between 2002 and 2008. HMS Ocean provided amphibious cover until the two ships of the class were available. 2 2003-2025 19,560 class ships HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark decommissioned in 2025. HMS Bulwark sold to Brazil and renamed NDM Oiapoque in 2025. 3 1962–2005 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. 3 1965–2007 16,914 Austin (Cleveland subclass) 7 1967–2014 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 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).
Gallery
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