Amphibious Transport Dock (LPD)

Amphibious transport dock ships are warships that embark, transport and land elements of a landing force for a variety of expeditionary warfare missions.  LPDs are used to transport and land Marines, their equipment and supplies by embarked landing craft, air cushion (LCAC) or conventional landing craft and amphibious assault vehicles (AAV) augmented by helicopters or vertical take-off and landing aircraft (MV 22). These ships support amphibious assault, special operations or expeditionary warfare missions and can serve as secondary aviation platforms for amphibious ready groups. 

The LPD 17 San Antonio class is the functional replacement of over 41 ships from the following: LPD 4 Austin class, LSD 36 Anchorage class, LKA 113 Charleston class and LST 1179 Newport class amphibious ships. The San Antonio class provides the Navy and Marine Corps with modern, sea-based platforms that are networked, survivable and built to operate with 21st century transformational platforms, such as the MV-22 Osprey, the upgraded Amphibious Assault Vehicle and future means by which Marines are delivered ashore. 

The Most Powerful Amphibious Force of All Time