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Many modern naval vessels are capable of carrying and supporting aircraft, although only aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships with full-length flight decks are truly dedicated to naval aviation, especially operation of fixed-wing aircraft. VTOL aircraft such as helicopters can however adapted well to most surface vessels as long as there is sufficient space on the top deck for safe takeoff and landing.

A majority of United States Navy (USN) ships have at least a stern helipad, capable of landing medium-sized naval helicopters for maritime patrol, search and rescue and anti-submarine missions. Many others even have hangars incorporated into the structure of the ship. It has become a standard part of modern ship design to have a deck that supports medium or large helicopters, as well as being able to house them in a hangar, for protection and maintenance.

Aside from aircraft carriers (hull symbol CVN) and amphibious assault ships (LPH, LHA and LHD), the USN has 12 classes of commissioned surface warships, 10 of which are aviation-capable. Two of those classes, patrol crafts (PC) and mine warfare vessels (AM), are due to be replaced by the more versatile littoral combat ship (LCS), at which point the entire USN surface war fleet will be aviation-capable.^[1]

US Navy ships

As of 2016, the current types and classes of US Navy ships, along with their capabilities are as follows:

Along with these types and classes, many of the US navy's non-commissioned ships, specifically those of the Military Sealift Command, are aviation-capable as well. The United States Coast Guard also has cutters that are aviation-capable. Also, with the growing technology in UAVs and UCAVs, virtually every ship afloat has, or will soon have, some type of aviation capability.

Other vessels

The following are examples of other types aviation-capable vessels from other navies around the world:

Other types

• Battlecarrier
• Merchant aircraft carrier
• Submarine aircraft carrier
• Aircraft cruiser
• CAM ship
• Drone carrier
• Fighter catapult ship
• Interdiction Assault Ship
• Seaplane tender

See also

References

External links