Many modern naval vessels are capable of carrying and supporting aircraft, although only aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships with full-length flight decks are truly dedicated to naval aviation, especially operation of fixed-wing aircraft. VTOL aircraft such as helicopters can however adapted well to most surface vessels as long as there is sufficient space on the top deck for safe takeoff and landing.
A majority of United States Navy (USN) ships have at least a stern helipad, capable of landing medium-sized naval helicopters for maritime patrol, search and rescue and anti-submarine missions. Many others even have hangars incorporated into the structure of the ship. It has become a standard part of modern ship design to have a deck that supports medium or large helicopters, as well as being able to house them in a hangar, for protection and maintenance.
Aside from aircraft carriers (hull symbol CVN) and amphibious assault ships (LPH, LHA and LHD), the USN has 12 classes of commissioned surface warships, 10 of which are aviation-capable. Two of those classes, patrol crafts (PC) and mine warfare vessels (AM), are due to be replaced by the more versatile littoral combat ship (LCS), at which point the entire USN surface war fleet will be aviation-capable.
US Navy ships As of 2016, the current types and classes of US Navy ships, along with their capabilities are as follows: TypeHull codeClassAircraft carried Amphibious Command Ship (LCC) 2 × Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk helicopters Amphibious transport dock (LPD)(AFSB(I)) up to 4 or 6 × CH-46 Sea Knight orup to 5 × MV-22 Osprey Tilt-rotors.(also fixed-wing aircraft, such as the AV-8B Harrier II V/STOL jet, in an emergency - see USS Green Bay AV-8B Harrier testing)Cruiser (CG) 2 × Sikorsky SH-60B orMH-60R Seahawk LAMPS III helicopters. Destroyer (DDG) up to 2 × MH-60R LAMPS III helicoptersDock landing ship (LSD) 2 × CH-53E Super Stallion or3 × CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters Littoral combat ship (LCS) 2 × MH-60R/S Seahawk and 1 × MQ-8 Fire ScoutSubmarine tender (AS) none (equipped with platform for medium helicopter) Along with these types and classes, many of the US navy's non-commissioned ships, specifically those of the Military Sealift Command, are aviation-capable as well. The United States Coast Guard also has cutters that are aviation-capable. Also, with the growing technology in UAVs and UCAVs, virtually every ship afloat has, or will soon have, some type of aviation capability.
Other vessels The following are examples of other types aviation-capable vessels from other navies around the world: TypeNational NavyClassAircraft carried Amphibious transport dock Chilean Navy 4 × helicoptersCommand ship Royal Danish Navy 2 × EH-101 helicopters Corvette Israeli Navy 1 × helicopterCruiser Russian Navy 1 × Kamov Ka-25 or Kamov Ka-27 helicopter Destroyer People's Liberation Army Navy (China) Type 052B or Guangzhou 1 × Kamov Ka-27 helicopterDock landing ship Royal Australian Navy none (can accommodate Chinook-sized helicopters and Osprey-sized tilt-rotors on its deck) Frigate Royal Navy (UK) Type 23 or Duke1 × Lynx HMA8 or 1 × Westland Merlin HM1Landing platform dock Spanish Navy 4 × SH-3 Sea King or6 × NH-90 helicoptersLanding Ship, Tank Hellenic Navy (Greece) none (equipped with platform for medium helicopter)Helicopter carrier Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force 3 × SH-60K, 1 × MCH-101
Other types Battlecarrier Merchant aircraft carrier Submarine aircraft carrier Aircraft cruiser CAM ship Drone carrier Fighter catapult ship Interdiction Assault Ship Seaplane tender
See also
List of current United States Navy ships List of Military Sealift Command ships United States Coast Guard Cutter Timeline for aircraft carrier service List of amphibious warfare ships List of aircraft carriers
References
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