Helicopter carrier
A helicopter carrier is a type of
Type 0891A. It often also has a hangar
deck for the storage and maintenance of rotorwing aircraft.
Pure helicopter carriers are difficult to define in the 21st century. The advent of
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
| Country | Navy | In service | In reserve | Fitting out | Under construction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Algeria |
 Algerian National Navy |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Australia |
 Royal Australian Navy |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Brazil |
Brazilian Navy |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 China |
 People's Liberation Army Navy |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 (4 planned) |
 Egypt |
 Egyptian Navy |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 France |
 French Navy |
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 India |
 Indian Navy |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (4 planned total) |
 Italy |
 Italian Navy |
2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
 Japan |
 Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force |
4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Portugal
|
 Portuguese Navy
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
 Qatar
|
Qatari Emiri Navy
|
0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
 Russia |
 Russian Navy |
0 | 0 | 0 | 2 (3 planned total) |
 South Korea |
 Republic of Korea Navy |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Spain |
Spanish Navy |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Thailand |
 Royal Thai Navy |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Turkey |
Turkish Naval Forces |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 United States |
 United States Navy |
9 | 3 | 0 | 2 (11 planned total) |
Helicopter carriers
Helicopter carriers currently in service
| Country | Name | Length | Tonnage (MT) | Class | Propulsion | Type | Classification | Commission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Algeria
|
Kalaat Béni Abbès | 143 m (469 ft) | 8800 t | Improved San Giusto (modified San Giorgio class) |
Conventional | STOVL | Amphibious transport dock[a] | 4 September 2014 |
| Australia
|
Canberra | 230.82 m (757 ft 3 in) | 27,500 t (27,100 long tons) | Juan Carlos I )
|
Conventional | STOVL | Landing helicopter dock | 28 November 2014 |
| Australia
|
Adelaide | 230.82 m (757 ft 3 in) | 27,500 t (27,100 long tons) | Juan Carlos I )
|
Conventional | STOVL | Landing helicopter dock | 4 December 2015 |
| Brazil
|
Atlântico | 203.4 m (667 ft 4 in) | 21,500 t (21,200 long tons) | Ocean | Conventional | VTOL | Multipurpose helicopter carrier | 29 June 2018[5] |
| 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 dock | 23 April 2021[6] |
| 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 dock | 26 December 2021[7][8][9] |
| 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 dock | 1 October 2022[10][11] |
| China
|
Shichang
|
125 m (410 ft 1 in) | 9,500 t (9,300 long tons) | Type 0891A
|
Conventional | VTOL | Training ship | January 1997 |
| Egypt
|
Gamal Abdel Nasser | 199 m (652 ft 11 in) | 21,300 t (21,000 long tons) | Mistral
|
Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 2 June 2016[12] |
| Egypt
|
Anwar El Sadat | 199 m (652 ft 11 in) | 21,300 t (21,000 long tons) | Mistral
|
Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 16 September 2016 |
| France
|
Mistral | 199 m (652 ft 11 in) | 21,300 t (21,000 long tons) | Mistral
|
Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | December 2005 |
| France
|
Tonnerre | 199 m (652 ft 11 in) | 21,300 t (21,000 long tons) | Mistral
|
Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | December 2006 |
| France
|
Dixmude | 199 m (652 ft 11 in) | 21,300 t (21,000 long tons) | Mistral
|
Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | December 2011 |
| Japan
|
Kaga | 248 m (813 ft 8 in) | 27,000 t (27,000 long tons) | Izumo
|
Conventional | VTOL | Helicopter destroyer | 22 March 2017 |
| Japan
|
Izumo | 248 m (813 ft 8 in) | 27,000 t (27,000 long tons) | Izumo
|
Conventional | VTOL | Helicopter destroyer | 25 March 2015 |
| Japan
|
Hyūga | 197 m (646 ft 4 in)[13] | 19,000 t (19,000 long tons) | Hyūga | Conventional | VTOL | Helicopter destroyer | 18 March 2009 |
| Japan
|
Ise | 197 m (646 ft 4 in)[13] | 19,000 t (19,000 long tons) | Hyūga | Conventional | VTOL | Helicopter destroyer | 16 March 2011 |
| 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 |
| South Korea
|
Marado | 199 m (652 ft 11 in) | 18,800 t (18,500 long tons) | Dokdo | Conventional | VTOL | Landing platform helicopter | 28 June 2021 |
| 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 dock | 30 September 2010 |
| 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 |
| Turkey
|
Anadolu | 232 m (761 ft 2 in) | 27,079 t (26,651 long tons) | Anadolu | Conventional | STOVL | Landing helicopter dock | 10 April 2023 |
| 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] |
| US
|
Tripoli | 257.3 m (844 ft 2 in) | 45,000 t (44,000 long tons) | America | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter assault | 15 July 2020 |
| US
|
Wasp | 257 m (843 ft 2 in) | 40,532 t (39,892 long tons) | Wasp[14] | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 29 July 1989 |
| US
|
Essex | 257 m (843 ft 2 in) | 40,650 t (40,010 long tons) | Wasp | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 17 October 1992 |
| US
|
Kearsarge | 257 m (843 ft 2 in) | 40,500 t (39,900 long tons) | Wasp | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 16 October 1993 |
| US
|
Boxer | 257 m (843 ft 2 in) | 40,722 t (40,079 long tons) | Wasp | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 11 February 1995 |
| US
|
Bataan | 257 m (843 ft 2 in) | 40,358 t (39,721 long tons) | Wasp | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 20 September 1997 |
| US
|
Iwo Jima | 257 m (843 ft 2 in) | 40,530 t (39,890 long tons) | Wasp | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 30 June 2001 |
| US
|
Makin Island | 258 m (846 ft 5 in) | 41,649 t (40,991 long tons) | Wasp | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 24 October 2009 |
Retired helicopter carriers
Albion (Royal Navy) – converted from light carrier and operating in helicopter carrier role from 1962 to 1973- helicopter cruiseractive from 1964 to 1992
Bonhomme Richard (United States Navy) – Wasp-class landing 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) - an Andrea Doria-class helicopter cruiser active from 1964 to 1989- US Coast Guard), decommissioned in 1946 – world's first helicopter carrier.
- Illustrious (Royal Navy) – an Invincible-class light aircraft carrier, which operated as a helicopter carrier when HMS Ocean was being refitted.[16]
- Iwo Jima (United States Navy) – lead of the seven-ship Iwo Jima class, active from the early 1960s to the early 2000s
Jeanne d'Arc (French Navy), decommissioned in 2010
Leningrad (Soviet Navy) – second of the two-ship Moskva class - active 1969–1991- Moskva (Soviet Navy) – lead of the two-ship Moskva class, active 1967–1991
- ex-Ocean (Royal Navy) – helicopter carrier 1998–2018, decommissioned March 2018.
- Sold to Brazil in February 2018, renamed Atlântico
- Vittorio Veneto (Italian Navy) – a helicopter cruiser active from 1969 to 2003
See also
- Amphibious transport dock
- Amphibious warfare ship
- Aviation-capable naval vessel
- List of STOVL carriers
Notes
- ^ Qualifies as a helicopter carrier due to its flight deck and its hangar’s ability to store and service helicopters
References
- ^ "HMS Ocean (LPH01) Helicopter Carrier". Naval Technology. 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2014-04-20.
- ^ "Overview | Moskva Class | Collections | Research | National Cold War Exhibition". www.nationalcoldwarexhibition.org. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
- ^ a b "LHD Wasp Class Amphibious Assault Ships". Naval Technology. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
- ^ "Depth from Above: Reinventing Carrier ASW | Center for International Maritime Security". 2022-10-12. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
- ^ "Brazil commissions helicopter carrier". www.janes.com. 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. Retrieved 2021-04-25.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "New pictures released of Chinese Type 075 LHD Guangxi". Navy Recognition. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
- ^ "China's Third Type 075 LHD Starts Sea Trials". 28 November 2021.
- ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (2022-10-01). "China's 3rd Type 075 LHD Anhui 安徽 Commissioned With PLAN". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
- ^ "Chinese navy's new warship takes part in 'combat-oriented training'". South China Morning Post. 2022-11-11. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
- ^ "DCNS delivers the second Mistral-class helicopter carrier to the Egyptian Navy, the LHD Anwar El Sadat". 16 September 2016.
- ^ a b "Hyuga Class". JMSDF Gallery (in Japanese). JMSDF. Archived from the original on 10 March 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ a b World 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. Retrieved 2014-04-20.
External links
Media related to Helicopter carriers at Wikimedia Commons