Helicopter carrier
Ahelicopter carrieris a type ofaircraft carrierwhose primary purpose is to operatehelicopters.It has a largeflight deckthat occupies a substantial part of the deck, which can extend the full length of the ship likeHMSOcean[1]of theRoyal Navy(RN), or extend only partway, usually aft, as in theSoviet Navy'sMoskvaclass[2]or in theChinese Navy'sType 0891A.It often also has ahangardeck for the storage and maintenance of rotorwing aircraft.
Pure helicopter carriers are difficult to define in the 21st century. The advent ofSTOVLaircraft such as theHarrier jump jet,and now theF-35,have complicated the classification; theUnited States Navy'sWaspclass,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 theWaspclass, are also capable of embarking troops such asmarinesand landing them ashore; they are classified asamphibious assault ships.[3]
Helicopter carriers have been used asanti-submarine warfare carriersand amphibious assault ships.[4]
HMSHermesand two of her sisters were 22,000 ton fleet carriers converted to "commando carriers" only able to operate helicopters.Hermeswas later converted to a STOVL carrier.
Helicopter carriers by country
[edit]| Country | Navy | In service | In reserve | Under construction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Australia |
 Royal Australian Navy |
2 | 0 | 0 |
 Brazil |
 Brazilian Navy |
1 | 0 | 0 |
 China |
 People's Liberation Army Navy |
3 | 1 | 1 (4 planned) |
 Egypt |
 Egyptian Navy |
2 | 0 | 0 |
 France |
 French Navy |
3 | 0 | 0 |
 India |
 Indian Navy |
0 | 0 | 0 (4 planned total) |
 Italy |
 Italian Navy |
2 | 0 | 1 |
 Japan |
 Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force |
4 | 0 | 0 |
 Portugal
|
 Portuguese Navy
|
0 | 0 | 1 |
 Russia |
 Russian Navy |
0 | 0 | 2 (3 planned total) |
 South Korea |
 Republic of Korea Navy |
2 | 0 | 0 |
 Spain |
Spanish Navy |
1 | 0 | 0 |
 Thailand |
 Royal Thai Navy |
1 | 0 | 0 |
 Turkey |
Turkish Naval Forces |
1 | 0 | 0 |
 United States |
 United States Navy |
9 | 3 | 2 (11 planned total) |
Helicopter carriers
[edit]Helicopter carriers currently in use
[edit]| Country | Name | Length | Tonnage(mt) | Class | Propulsion | Type | Classification | Commission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia
|
Canberra | 230.82 m (757.3 ft) | 27,500 mt | Canberra (modifiedJuan Carlos I) |
Conventional | STOVL | Landing helicopter dock | 28 November 2014 |
| Australia
|
Adelaide | 230.82 m (757.3 ft) | 27,500 mt | Canberra (modifiedJuan Carlos I) |
Conventional | STOVL | Landing helicopter dock | 4 December 2015 |
| Brazil
|
Atlântico | 203.4 m (667 ft) | 21,500 mt | Ocean | Conventional | VTOL | Multipurpose helicopter carrier | 29 June 2018[5] |
| China
|
Hainan | 232 m (761 ft) | 36,000 tonnes (full load) | Type 075 (NATO reporting nameYushen class) | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 23 April 2021[6] |
| China
|
Guangxi | 232 m (761 ft) | 36,000 tonnes (full load) | Type 075 (NATO reporting nameYushen class) | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 26 December 2021[7][8][9] |
| China
|
Anhui | 232 m (761 ft) | 36,000 tonnes (full load) | Type 075 (NATO reporting nameYushen class) | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 1 October 2022[10][11] |
| China
|
Shichang | 125 m (410 ft) | 9,500 mt | Type 0891A | Conventional | VTOL | Training ship | January 1997 |
| Egypt
|
Gamal Abdel Nasser | 199 m (653 ft) | 21,300 mt | Mistral | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 2 June 2016[12] |
| Egypt
|
Anwar El Sadat | 199 m (653 ft) | 21,300 mt | Mistral | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 16 September 2016 |
| France
|
Mistral | 199 m (653 ft) | 21,300 mt | Mistral | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | December 2005 |
| France
|
Tonnerre | 199 m (653 ft) | 21,300 mt | Mistral | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | December 2006 |
| France
|
Dixmude | 199 m (653 ft) | 21,300 mt | Mistral | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | December 2011 |
| Japan
|
Kaga | 248 m (814 ft) | 27,000 mt | Izumo | Conventional | VTOL | Helicopter destroyer | 22 March 2017 |
| Japan
|
Izumo | 248 m (814 ft) | 27,000 mt | Izumo | Conventional | VTOL | Helicopter destroyer | 25 March 2015 |
| Japan
|
Hyūga | 197 m (646 ft)[13] | 19,000 mt | Hyūga | Conventional | VTOL | Helicopter destroyer | 18 March 2009 |
| Japan
|
Ise | 197 m (646 ft)[13] | 19,000 mt | Hyūga | Conventional | VTOL | Helicopter destroyer | 16 March 2011 |
| South Korea
|
Dokdo | 199 m (653 ft) | 18,800 mt | Dokdo | Conventional | VTOL | Landing platform helicopter | 3 July 2007 |
| South Korea
|
Marado | 199 m (653 ft) | 18,800 mt | Dokdo | Conventional | VTOL | Landing platform helicopter | 28 June 2021 |
| Spain
|
Juan Carlos I | 230.82 m (757.3 ft) | 27,079 mt | Juan Carlos I | Conventional | STOVL | Landing helicopter dock | 30 September 2010 |
| Thailand
|
Chakri Naruebet | 182.65 m (599.2 ft) | 11,486 mt | Príncipe de Asturias | Conventional | STOVL | Helicopter carrier (Light aircraft carrier) | 27 March 1997 |
| Turkey
|
Anadolu | 232 m (761 ft) | 27,079 mt | Anadolu | Conventional | STOVL | Landing Helicopter Dock | 10 April 2023 |
| US
|
America | 257.3 m (844 ft) | 45,000 mt | America[14] | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter assault | 11 October 2014[15] |
| US
|
Tripoli | 257.3 m (844 ft) | 45,000 mt | America | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter assault | 15 July 2020 |
| US
|
Wasp | 257 m (843 ft) | 40,532 mt | Wasp[14] | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 29 July 1989 |
| US
|
Essex | 257 m (843 ft) | 40,650 mt | Wasp | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 17 October 1992 |
| US
|
Kearsarge | 257 m (843 ft) | 40,500 mt | Wasp | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 16 October 1993 |
| US
|
Boxer | 257 m (843 ft) | 40,722 mt | Wasp | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 11 February 1995 |
| US
|
Bataan | 257 m (843 ft) | 40,358 mt | Wasp | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 20 September 1997 |
| US
|
Iwo Jima | 257 m (843 ft) | 40,530 mt | Wasp | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 30 June 2001 |
| US
|
Makin Island | 258 m (846 ft) | 41,649 mt | Wasp | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 24 October 2009 |
Retired helicopter carriers
[edit]
Albion(Royal Navy) – converted from light carrier and operating in helicopter carrier role from 1962 to 1973- Andrea Doria(Italian Navy) – anAndrea Doria-classhelicopter cruiseractive from 1964 to 1992
- Bonhomme Richard(United States Navy) –Wasp-classlanding helicopter dock,active 1998–2020
- Bulwark(Royal Navy) – converted from light carrier and operating in helicopter carrier role from 1960 to 1981
- Caio Duilio(Italian Navy) - anAndrea Doria-class helicopter cruiser active from 1964 to 1989
- Cobb(US Coast Guard), decommissioned in 1946 – world's first helicopter carrier.
- Illustrious(Royal Navy) – anInvincible-classlight aircraft carrier, which operated as a helicopter carrier when HMSOceanwas being refitted.[16]
- Iwo Jima(United States Navy) – lead of the seven-shipIwo Jimaclass,active from the early 1960s to the early 2000s
- Jeanne d'Arc(French Navy), decommissioned in 2010
Leningrad(Soviet Navy) – second of the two-shipMoskvaclass- active 1969–1991- Moskva(Soviet Navy) – lead of the two-shipMoskvaclass, active 1967–1991
- ex-Ocean(Royal Navy) – helicopter carrier 1998–2018, decommissioned March 2018.
- Sold to Brazilin February 2018, renamedAtlântico
- Vittorio Veneto(Italian Navy) – a helicopter cruiser active from 1969 to 2003
See also
[edit]- Amphibious transport dock
- Amphibious warfare ship
- Aviation-capable naval vessel
- List of STOVL carriers
References
[edit]- ^"HMS Ocean (LPH01) Helicopter Carrier".Naval Technology. 2011-06-15.Retrieved2014-04-20.
- ^"Overview | Moskva Class | Collections | Research | National Cold War Exhibition".nationalcoldwarexhibition.org.Retrieved2023-11-28.
- ^ab"LHD Wasp Class Amphibious Assault Ships".Naval Technology.Retrieved2023-11-28.
- ^"Depth from Above: Reinventing Carrier ASW | Center for International Maritime Security".2022-10-12.Retrieved2023-11-28.
- ^"Brazil commissions helicopter carrier".janes.29 June 2018.
- ^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.Retrieved2021-04-25.
- ^"12 nguyệt 26 ngày chính thức phục dịch! 4 vạn tấn" Quảng Tây hạm "Đứng vào hàng ngũ phía Đông chiến khu, 16 tháng sáng tạo kỳ tích, dự báo mấu chốt thời gian điểm, nhằm vào đài hải quỷ quyệt, giải quyết dứt khoát! 【 nhất hào trạm gác 】".YouTube.
- ^"New pictures released of Chinese Type 075 LHD Guangxi".Navy Recognition.26 November 2021.Retrieved2021-12-09.
- ^"China's Third Type 075 LHD Starts Sea Trials".28 November 2021.
- ^Vavasseur, Xavier (2022-10-01)."China's 3rd Type 075 LHD Anhui An Huy Commissioned With PLAN".Naval News.Retrieved2024-01-24.
- ^"Chinese navy's new warship takes part in 'combat-oriented training'".South China Morning Post.2022-11-11.Retrieved2024-01-24.
- ^"DCNS delivers the second Mistral-class helicopter carrier to the Egyptian Navy, the LHD Anwar El Sadat".16 September 2016.
- ^ab"Hyuga Class".JMSDF Gallery(in Japanese). JMSDF. Archived fromthe originalon 10 March 2015.Retrieved27 February2015.
- ^abWorld Wide Aircraft Carriers
- ^"America 'Sails Away' for Maiden Transit to San Diego Homeport".United States Navy.10 October 2014.
- ^"BBC News – Warship HMS Illustrious starts sea trials".Bbc.co.uk. 2011-06-17.Retrieved2014-04-20.
External links
[edit]
Media related toHelicopter carriersat Wikimedia Commons