Q&A ยท 2:19:29-2:19:50

Turning amphibious support ships into helicopter platforms

Completing additional amphibious support hulls with aft aviation and command facilities could produce valuable postwar helicopter ships.

Question

Would it have been worthwhile to complete more wartime amphibious support ships?

Short answer

Yes, especially if they were built with aft aviation and command facilities that could later support helicopter operations.

Notes

With hindsight, the additional support ships would be completed rather than cancelled. Their sterns would receive extensive aviation facilities while the hulls also retained command-and-control space. As helicopters matured, these ships could support troop movement, medical work, observation, and amphibious headquarters functions. The design would therefore remain useful beyond its original wartime role. Generous deck area and command volume can make an auxiliary hull adaptable to technologies that arrive after construction.