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Landing Platform, Helicopter (LPH) is the United States Navy hull classification symbol for the amphibious assault ships of the Iwo Jima class and three converted Essex class aircraft carriers.

No ships of this classification are currently in active service with the United States Navy, having been replaced with multi-purpose ships classified as Landing Helicopter Dock or Landing Helicopter Assault ships. France now operates the Mistral-class amphibious assault ship, which has a helicopter deck and well dock.

The Royal Navy equivalent term was "Commando Carrier" applied to aircraft carriers converted to helicopter only operations. The RN operates the only LPH type ship still in operation, HMS Ocean.

LPH Ships

United States Navy

• USS Block Island (LPH-1) (CVE-106) – Commencement Bay-class escort carrier – Conversion to LPH cancelled^[1]
• USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2) – Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship – First ship to be designed and built from the keel up as an amphibious assault ship.
• USS Okinawa (LPH-3) – Iwo Jima-class
• USS Boxer (LPH-4) (ex CV-21) – Converted straight deck Essex-class aircraft carrier
• USS Princeton (LPH-5) (ex CV-37) – Converted straight deck Essex-class aircraft carrier
• USS Thetis Bay (LPH-6) (ex CVE-90, ex CVHA-1) – Minimal conversion Casablanca-class escort carrier
• USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7) – Iwo Jima-class
• USS Valley Forge (LPH-8) (ex CV-45) – Converted straight deck Essex-class aircraft carrier
• USS Guam (LPH-9) – Iwo Jima-class
• USS Tripoli (LPH-10) – Iwo Jima-class – Towed hulk on loan to US Army launching targets for THAAD Missiles at Pacific Missile Range Facility.
• USS New Orleans (LPH-11) – Iwo Jima-class
• USS Inchon (LPH-12) – Iwo Jima-class

Royal Navy

HMS Ocean

Royal Navy commando carriers.

• HMS Ocean (R68) – 1956 only, emergency minimal conversion for Suez Crisis Colossus-class aircraft carrier
• HMS Theseus (R64) – 1956 only, emergency minimal conversion for Suez Crisis Colossus-class aircraft carrier
• HMS Albion (R07) – Converted in 1961 Colossus-class aircraft carrier
• HMS Bulwark (R08) – 1960-1980 Centaur-class aircraft carrier
• HMS Hermes (R12) – 1982-1984 Centaur-class aircraft carrier
• HMS Ocean (L12) – Currently in service.
• HMS Ark Royal (R07) - Invincible-class aircraft carrier Equipped and tasked as an commando carrier while Ocean is in refit; primary duty as a fleet carrier.

See also

• Helicopter carrier
• List of amphibious warfare ships

References