Amphibious Ships (LCC/LHA/LHD/LPD/LSD)
AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT (LHA/LHD)
Operating as part of the modern Navy amphibious assault ships project power and maintain presence by serving as the cornerstone of the Amphibious Ready Groups (ARG). These ships use air cushion landing craft (LCAC), conventional landing craft and helicopters to move Marine assault forces ashore. Amphibious assault ships primarily act as the home of their embarked Marine air wing. Amphibious assault ships organically maintain, house, and deploy nearly all marine aviation platforms to include the purpose made F35-B. This provides deployed Marine expeditionary units with all air assets required to engage in air warfare operations independently for prolonged periods of time.
AMPHIBIOUS TRANSPORT DOCK (LPD)
Amphibious transport dock ships are used to transport and land elements of a landing force for a variety of expeditionary warfare missions. These ships are used to transport Marines, their equipment and supplies by embarked air cushion or conventional landing craft or amphibious vehicles, augmented by helicopters or vertical takeoff and landing aircraft in amphibious assault, special operations or expeditionary warfare missions.
AMPHIBIOUS DOCK LANDING (LSD)
Dock landing ships support amphibious operations including landing via air, LCAC and conventional landing craft.The primary mission of the amphibious transport dock class of ships is to deploy troops and their accompanying vehicles in the case of amphibious assault. Acting as the troop transport element of the Fleet marine force, a single transport dock ship can carry nearly an entire battalion sized element of marines, as well as their accompanying amphibious vehicles.
AMPHIBIOUS COMMAND (LCC)
Amphibious Command Ships provide command and control for Fleet Commanders.
