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Aviation-capable naval vessel

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View of aFreedom-class littoral combat shipwith aSikorsky SH-60 Seahawkhelicopter on her deck
A pair ofMH-53E Sea Dragonssitting on the deck of aHarpers Ferry-class dock landing ship
A trio ofCH-53E Super Stallionson the deck of aSan Antonio-class amphibious transport dock
View of aLynx HMA8helicopter flying toward the landing pad on aType 23 or Duke-classfrigate
AnIAFEurocopter AS565 Pantherhelicopter hovers above aSa'ar 5-class corvette

Many present-day naval vessels, aside fromaircraft carriersand full-length deckamphibious assault ships,are capable of carrying aircraft. A majority ofUnited States Navyships have at least ahelipad,capable of landing medium-sizedhelicopters.Many others have decks and evenhangarsincorporated into the structure of the ship. It has become a standard part of modernship designto have a deck that supports multiple, medium or large helicopters, as well as being able to house them in a hangar, for protection and maintenance. Aside from carriers and full-length deck amphibious assault ships, the US Navy has 12 classes ofcommissionedsurface warships, 10 of which are aviation-capable. Two of those classes, patrol ships and mine counter-measure ships, are due to be replaced by the littoral combat ship, at which point the entire US Navalsurface war fleetwill be aviation-capable.[1]

US Navy ships

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As of 2016, the current types and classes of US Navy ships, along with their capabilities are as follows:

Type Hull code Class Aircraft carried
Amphibious Command Ship (LCC) Blue Ridge 2 ×Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawkhelicopters
Amphibious transport dock (LPD)
(AFSB(I))
San Antonio
Austin
up to 4 or 6 ×CH-46 Sea Knightor
up to 5 ×MV-22 OspreyTilt-rotors.
(also fixed-wing aircraft, such as theAV-8B Harrier IIV/STOL jet, in an emergency - seeUSSGreen BayAV-8B Harrier testing)
Cruiser (CG) Ticonderoga 2 ×Sikorsky SH-60B or
MH-60R Seahawk
LAMPSIII helicopters.
Destroyer (DDG) Arleigh Burke up to 2 × MH-60R LAMPS III helicopters
Dock landing ship (LSD) Harpers Ferry
Whidbey Island
2 ×CH-53E Super Stallionor
3 × CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters
Littoral combat ship (LCS) Freedom
Independence
2 × MH-60R/S Seahawk and 1 ×MQ-8 Fire Scout
Submarine tender (AS) Emory S. Land 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 theMilitary Sealift Command,are aviation-capable as well. TheUnited States Coast Guardalso hascuttersthat are aviation-capable. Also, with the growing technology inUAVsandUCAVs,virtually every ship afloat has, or will soon have, some type of aviation capability.

Other vessels

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The following are examples of other types aviation-capable vessels from other navies around the world:

Type National Navy Class Aircraft carried
Amphibious transport dock Chilean Navy Foudre 4 × helicopters
Command ship Royal Danish Navy Absalon 2 ×EH-101helicopters
Corvette Israeli Navy Sa'ar 5 1 × helicopter
Cruiser Russian Navy Slava 1 ×Kamov Ka-25orKamov Ka-27helicopter
Destroyer People's Liberation Army Navy(China) Type 052B or Guangzhou 1 × Kamov Ka-27 helicopter
Dock landing ship Royal Australian Navy Bay none(can accommodate Chinook-sized helicopters and Osprey-sized tilt-rotors on its deck)
Frigate Royal Navy(UK) Type 23 or Duke 1 ×Lynx HMA8or 1 ×Westland Merlin HM1
Landing platform dock Spanish Navy Galicia 4 ×SH-3 Sea Kingor
6 ×NH-90helicopters
Landing Ship, Tank Hellenic Navy(Greece) Jason none(equipped with platform for medium helicopter)
Helicopter destroyer Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Hyūga 3 × SH-60K, 1 × MCH-101

Other types

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See also

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References

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  1. ^Wragg, David W. (1973).A Dictionary of Aviation(first ed.). Osprey. p. 18.ISBN9780850451634.
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