amphibious transport dock

An amphibious transport dock (also called a landing platform dock or LPD) is an amphibious assault ship, a warship that embarks, transports, and lands elements of a landing force for expeditionary warfare missions. The United States Navy operates several of this type of ship; their helicopters, vertical take-off and landing aircraft, and air-cushion or conventional landing craft support of the United States Marine Corps's "vertical envelopment" assault doctrine. The ships are generally designed to transport troops into a war zone by sea, primarily using landing craft, although invariably they will also have a limited airborne capability.
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