An amphibious transport dock, also called a landing platform dock (LPD),^[1] is an amphibious warfare ship, a warship that embarks, transports, and lands elements of a landing force for expeditionary warfare missions.^[2] Several navies operate this kind of ship. The ships are generally designed to transport troops into a war zone by sea, primarily using landing craft, although invariably they also have the capability to operate transport helicopters.

Amphibious transport docks perform the mission of amphibious transports, amphibious cargo ships, and the older dock landing ships (LSD) by incorporating both a flight deck and a well deck that can be ballasted and deballasted to support landing craft or amphibious vehicles. The main difference between LSDs and LPDs is that while both have helicopter landing decks, the LPD also has hangar facilities for protection and maintenance.^[3] In the United States Navy, the newer class of LPD has succeeded the older classes of LSDs, and both the Navy and United States Marine Corps are looking to the LPD to be the basis of their new LX(R) program to replace their LSDs.^[4]

LPD classes

Country/Territory	Class	In ser­vice	Com­mis­sion­ed	Length	Beam	Draft	Dis­place­ment (mt)	Note	Image
Algeria	Kalaat Béni Abbès	1	2015	143 m (469 ft)	21.5 m (71 ft)	5.3 m (17 ft)	9,000	Improved San Giorgio-class built in Italy.[5]
Australia	HMAS Choules	1	2011	176.6 m (579 ft)	26.9 m (88 ft)	5.8 m (19 ft)	16,160	Ex-British Largs Bay (L3006) sold to Australian Navy in 2011, renamed Choules (L100).
Brazil	Bahia	1	2016	168 m (551 ft)	23.5 m (77 ft)	5.2 m (17 ft)	12,000	Ex-French Siroco (L9012) sold to Brazil Navy in 2015, renamed Bahia (G40).
	NDM Oiapoque	1	2025	176 m (577 ft)	28.9 m (95 ft)	7.1 m (23 ft)	19,560	Ex-British Albion class ship HMS Bulwark sold to Brazil and renamed NDM Oiapoque in 2025.
Chile	Sargento Aldea	1	2011	168 m (551 ft)	23.5 m (77 ft)	5.2 m (17 ft)	12,000	Ex-French Foudre (L9011) sold to Chile Navy in 2011, renamed Sargento Aldea (LSDH-91).
China	Type 071 (Yuzhao)	8	2007	210 m (690 ft)	28 m (92 ft)	7 m (23 ft)	25,000
India	Jalashwa	1	2007	173.7 m (570 ft)	32 m (105 ft)	6.7 m (22 ft)	16,600	Ex-USS Trenton (LPD-14) sold to the Indian Navy in 2007, renamed INS Jalashwa (L41).
Indonesia	Makassar	5	2007	122–125 m (400–410 ft)	22 m (72 ft)	4.9 m (16 ft)	11,394	Designed by Daesun Ship­building & Engineering Co., first two units were built in South Korea.
Italy	San Giorgio	3	1987	133 m (436 ft)	20.5 m (67 ft)		7,650 (San Giorgio and San Marco) 7,980 (San Giusto)
Japan	Ōsumi	3	1998	178 m (584 ft)	25.8 m (85 ft)	6.0 m (19.7 ft)	14,000
Myanmar	Makassar	1	2019	122–125 m (400–410 ft)	22 m (72 ft)	4.9 m (16 ft)	11,394	UMS Moattama, built in South Korea.
Netherlands	Rotterdam	2	1997	166 m (545 ft)	27 m (89 ft)	6.0 m (19.7 ft)	12,750 (RD) 16,800 (JW)
Peru	Makassar	2	2018[6]	122 m (400 ft)	22 m (72 ft)	4.9 m (16 ft)	11,394	Built in Peru.
Philippines	Tarlac	4	2016[7]	123 m (404 ft)	21.8 m (72 ft)	5.0 m (16.4 ft)	11,583	Subclass of the Makassar-class built in Indonesia.
Qatar	Al Fulk	1	fitting out	143 m (469 ft)	21.5 m (71 ft)	5.3 m (17 ft)	9,000	Improved San Giorgio-class built in Italy.
Singapore	Endurance	4	2000	141 m (463 ft)	21 m (69 ft)	5.0 m (16.4 ft)	8,500
Spain	Galicia	2	1998	166 m (545 ft)	25 m (82 ft)	5.8 m (19 ft)	13,815
Taiwan	Yushan	1	2021	153 m (502 ft)[8]	23 m (75 ft)[8]	6.0 m (19.7 ft)[8]	10,600[8]
Thailand	Angthong	1	2012	141 m (463 ft)	21 m (69 ft)	5.0 m (16.4 ft)	8,500	Based on the Endurance-class, built in Singapore.
	Chang	1	2023	213 m (699 ft)	28 m (92 ft)	7 m (23 ft)	22,000	Export version of the Chinese Type 071 amphibious transport dock.
United Kingdom	Bay	3	2007	176.6 m (579 ft)	26.9 m (88 ft)	5.8 m (19 ft)	16,160
United States	San Antonio	12	2006	208 m (682 ft)	32 m (105 ft)	7.0 m (23.0 ft)	25,300

Decommissioned

Country	Class	Out of service	Com­mis­sion­ed	Length	Beam	Draft	Dis­place­ment (mt)	Note	Image
France	Ouragan	2	1963–2007	149 m (489 ft)	21.5 m (71 ft)	5.4 m (18 ft)	8,500
	Bougainville	1	1988–2008	113.50 m (372.4 ft)	17.00 m (55.77 ft)	4.24 m (13.9 ft)	4,870
	Foudre	2	1990–2015	168 m (551 ft)	23.5 m (77 ft)	5.2 m (17 ft)	12,000	Sold to Chile and Brazil.
Indonesia	Tanjung Dalpele	1	2003-2007	122 m (400 ft)	22 m (72 ft)	4.9 m (16 ft)	11,394	Converted to a hospital ship in 2007, renamed KRI Dr Soeharso (990).[9]
United Kingdom	Fearless	2	1965-2002	158.5 m (520 ft)	24.4 m (80 ft)	6.3 m (21 ft)	16,950	Scrapped between 2002 and 2008. HMS Ocean provided amphibious cover until the two ships of the Albion class were available.
	Albion	2	2003-2025	176 m (577 ft)	28.9 m (95 ft)	7.1 m (23 ft)	19,560	Albion class ships HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark decommissioned in 2025. HMS Bulwark sold to Brazil and renamed NDM Oiapoque in 2025.
United States	Raleigh	3	1962–2005	159 m (522 ft)	30 m (98 ft)	7.0 m (23.0 ft)	13,818	USS La Salle (LPD-3) converted from Landing Platform Dock to Auxiliary Flagship and redesignated as USS La Salle (AGF-3) in 1972.
	Austin	3	1965–2007	173 m (568 ft)	32 m (105 ft)	6.7 m (22 ft)	16,914
	Austin (Cleveland subclass)	7	1967–2014	173 m (568 ft)	32 m (105 ft)	6.7 m (22 ft)	16,914	Some sources consider Cleveland (seven built) to be a part of the Austin class. USS Coronado (LPD-11) converted from Landing Platform Dock to Auxiliary Flagship and redesignated as USS Coronado (AGF-11) in 1980.
	Austin (Trenton subclass)	2	1971–2017	173 m (568 ft)	32 m (105 ft)	6.7 m (22 ft)	16,914	Some sources consider Trenton (two built) ships to be a part of the Austin class. Ex-USS Trenton (LPD-14) sold to the Indian Navy and in active service with Indian Navy. USS Ponce (LPD-15) converted (AFSB(I)-15).

Gallery

• 
  The well deck of HNLMS Rotterdam
• 
  Aviation hangar of the Rotterdam-class HNLMS Johan de Witt
• 
  Stern of USS Juneau ballasted for amphibious operations
• 
  The open well deck of the French ship Siroco
• 
  The well deck of USS San Antonio

See also

• Amphibious warfare ship
• Dock landing ship
• Landing Platform Helicopter
• List of amphibious warfare ships
• List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships § Landing Platform Dock (LPD)

References