Landing Ship Dock Replacement

摘要

Current amphibious ships are capable of operating a variety of ship- to-shore connectors including displacement and non-displacement craft. However these ships are not optimized for operation of any particular landing craft and are sub-optimal for some of these craft. An investigation was undertaken considering future Landing Ship Dock concepts focused on operations using specific types of landing craft and intended to replace the LSD-41 vessels. Two concept designs are presented, one developed specifically to operate the forthcoming Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle and one developed to specifically operate the current Landing Craft Air Cushion. Requirements for these concepts were derived from the estimated composition of the 2015 Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), US Navy design practices and from the LSD-41. Both concepts are based on a trimaran hull form with the cross-structure housing vehicles and equipment. Compared to current amphibious ships the concepts presented provide a less broad capability in a more focused manner. The designs developed have introduced some potentially significant operational advantages, in particular, with the capability to rapidly launch a single wave of 48 Expeditionary Fighting Vehicles or with the capability to operate LCACs with a simplified ballast system.