Helicopter carrier

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USS Boxer, a U.S. Navy Wasp class amphibious assault ship

A helicopter carrier is a type of aircraft carrier whose primary purpose is to operate helicopters. Helicopter carriers have been used as anti-submarine warfare carriers and amphibious assault ships.

Helicopter carriers can either have a full-length aircraft deck like HMS Ocean,^[1] or have a large helicopter deck, usually aft, as in the Soviet Navy's Moskva class or RFA Argus. A full-length deck maximises deck space for helicopter landing spots. Such a design also allows for a hangar deck.

Pure helicopter carriers are difficult to define in the 21st century. The advent of STOVL aircraft such as the Harrier Jump Jet have complicated the classification; the United States Navy's Wasp class, for instance, carries six to eight Harriers as well as over 20 helicopters. 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 the Wasp class, are also capable of embarking troops such as marines and landing them ashore; they are classified as amphibious assault ships.

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

Helicopter carriers currently in use

The Royal Navy's HMS Ocean

The JMSDF Hyūga class helicopter destroyer

Dokdo class amphibious assault ship (Republic of Korea Navy)
Hyūga class helicopter destroyer (Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force) (Hyūga was commissioned on March 18, 2009. The second ship Ise was commissioned on 16 March 2011.)
HMS Illustrious (Royal Navy) The sole remaining in-service Invincible-class light aircraft carrier, which will operate as a helicopter carrier when HMS Ocean enters her forthcoming refit.^[2]
HMS Ocean (Royal Navy)
Mistral class amphibious assault ship (French Navy),
Tarawa class amphibious assault ship (US Navy)
Wasp class amphibious assault ship (US Navy)
HTMS Chakri Naruebet (Royal Thai Navy)

Retired helicopter carriers

USS Iwo Jima (United States Navy) - the lead ship of the Iwo Jima class
HMS Bulwark, HMS Albion, (Royal Navy) - helicopter carriers of the 1960s-1980s
Moskva class (Soviet Navy)
Vittorio Veneto class (Italian Marina Militare)
Jeanne d'Arc (French Navy, decommissioned in 2010)
USCGC Cobb (WPG-181) (US Coast Guard, decommissioned in 1946) - World's first helicopter carrier.

Helicopter carriers under construction

Dixmude a Mistral class helicopter carrier of the French Navy

America class amphibious assault ship (US Navy)
Canberra class landing helicopter dock (Royal Australian Navy)
Dokdo class amphibious assault ship (Republic of Korea Navy). The 2nd ship Marado is under construction.
Mistral class amphibious assault ship. Two ships under construction for the Russian Navy. More ordered.
Izumo-class helicopter destroyer (JMSDF).

Helicopter carriers by country

Country	Navy	In service	In reserve	Under construction
United States	United States Navy	9	4	0
Japan	Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force	2	0	2
South Korea	Republic of Korea Navy	1	0	1 (+2 planed)
United Kingdom	Royal Navy	2	0	0
France	French Navy	3	0	0
Thailand	Royal Thai Navy	1	0	0
Russia	Russian Navy	0	0	2
Australia	Royal Australian Navy	0	0	2 (+2 planed)

References

v t e Modern naval ships

Aircraft carriers	Aircraft cruiser Amphibious assault ship Anti-submarine warfare carrier Balloon carrier CAM ship Escort carrier Fighter catapult ship Helicopter carrier Light aircraft carrier Merchant aircraft carrier Seaplane tender Submarine aircraft carrier Supercarrier

Battleships	Coastal defence ship Dreadnought (Standard-type battleship) Fast battleship Pre-dreadnought battleship Super battleship Treaty battleship

Cruisers	Armored cruiser Battlecruiser Flight deck cruiser Heavy cruiser Pocket battleship Light cruiser Merchant raider Protected cruiser Strike cruiser Unprotected cruiser

Escort	Aviso Convoy rescue ship Destroyer Destroyer escort Frigate Guided missile destroyer Kaibokan Sloop

Transport	Amphibious transport dock Amphibious warfare ship Attack transport Dock landing ship Landing craft Landing ship heavy Landing ship, infantry Landing ship medium Landing ship support, large Landing ship, tank Landing ship vehicle Troopship

Patrol craft	Armed boarding steamer Armed yacht Coastal motor boat Corvette Gunboat Harbour defence motor launch Motor launch Naval drifter Naval trawler Ocean boarding vessel Patrol boat Q-ship Steam gun boat Submarine chaser Torpedo boat

Fast attack craft	E-boat MAS MGB Missile boat MTB MTM MTSM PT boat Shinyo

Mine warfare	Danlayer Destroyer minesweeper Mine countermeasures vessel Mine planter Minehunter Minelayer Minesweeper

Command and support	Ammunition ship Auxiliary repair dock Auxiliary ship Collier Combat stores ship Command ship Crane vessel Depot ship Destroyer tender Dispatch boat Fast combat support ship General stores issue ship Hospital ship Net laying ship Replenishment oiler Submarine tender

Submarines	Attack submarine Ballistic missile submarine Cruise missile submarine Deep-submergence vehicle DSRV Midget submarine U-boat

Miscellaneous	Arsenal ship Barracks ship Breastwork monitor Flagship Guard ship Littoral combat ship Monitor River monitor Training ship

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