LHA, for Landing Helicopter Assault, is the US Navy hull classification symbol for the general purpose helicopter-carrying amphibious assault ships of the Tarawa and the future America classes. They are used to transport Fleet Marine Force personnel and equipment while operating in a deployed Marine Expeditionary Unit. They normally travel in groups called Amphibious Ready Groups. These ships and their escorts are capable of anything from landing operations, to humanitarian operations.
The new America-class LHAs differ from both the older Tarawa-class LHAs and LHDs in that they will have no well deck.
| Hull number |
Name | Commissioned | Decommissioned |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tarawa-class amphibious assault ships | |||
| LHA-1 | USS Tarawa | September 30, 2009 | |
| LHA-2 | USS Saipan | April 20, 2007 | |
| LHA-3 | USS Belleau Wood | October 28, 2005 | |
| LHA-4 | USS Nassau | March 31, 2011 | |
| LHA-5 | USS Peleliu | ||
| America-class amphibious assault ships | |||
| LHA-6 | USS America | Under construction | |