What does the acronym LPD mean? What does Dock mean in amphibious transport dock?
LPD stands for Landing Platform Dock although the ship is usually referred to as an amphibious transport dock. However, in the 21st Century, LPD 17s will perform more than amphibious missions, and serve as more than a transport for the landing forces. Amphibious transport docks, both the 15 LPDs in previous ship classes and the San Antonio class, each will have a well deck in the after part of the ship. The ship will ballast her stern to either completely flood the well deck for launching and recovering conventional landing craft or only partially for Expeditionary Fighting Vehicles. These will egress or enter when the stern gate is opened. The ship then deballasts and operates with a dry well. The well deck is not flooded for LCAC, air cushion landing craft operations. Well deck operations may be conducted pierside, at anchor, or at sea while moving through the water.
A13. LPD stands for Landing Platform Dock although the ship is usually referred to as an amphibious transport dock. However, in the 21st Century, LPD 17 will perform more than amphibious missions, and serve as more than a transport for the landing forces. Amphibious transport docks, both the 15 LPDs in previous ship classes and the San Antonio class, each will have a well deck in the after part of the ship. The ship will ballast her stern to either completely flood the well deck for launching and recovering conventional landing craft or only partially for Expeditionary Fighting Vehicles. These will egress or enter when the stern gate is opened. The ship then deballasts and operates with a dry well. The well deck is not flooded for LCAC, air cushion landing craft operations. Well deck operations may be conducted pierside, at anchor, or at sea while moving through the water.
