Carrier terminology changes across periods and navies. A Second World War tonnage label does not transfer neatly to today's much larger ships, while amphibious abbreviations such as LPH, LHD, LHA, and LPD can overlap or vary by country. Capability and intended mission are more reliable guides than displacement alone. The vocabulary explains why ships with similar flight decks may belong to very different operational categories.
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Why carrier labels depend on mission
An opening guide explains why tonnage alone cannot distinguish modern fleet, light, escort, and amphibious aviation ships.