Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 3:24:08-3:24:54

Which helicopter ships count in the Arsenal Bird swap?

The number of replacements depends on whether aviation-first amphibious ships are treated as carriers.

America Class Amphibious Assault ShipsAmphibious Warfare ShipsFiction Ace Combat Arsenal BirdHelicopter Carriers
Watch at this timeFull video guide
Question

If Ocean qualifies, do landing-platform helicopters and other amphibious ships qualify too?

Short answer

The proposed rule includes aviation-first ships without a dock, though a participant favors a narrower boundary.

Notes

Including Ocean raises a follow-up about landing-platform helicopters and other amphibious ships. One participant would set the boundary at Japanese helicopter destroyers. Clarke argues that accepting those ships also admits other vessels built primarily for aviation. His proposed distinction separates aviation-first ships without a dock from amphibious vessels whose well dock changes the design's purpose, using America as an example. It is a clarification of the scenario's rules, with disagreement still present.