Navies from war to relief: the start of operation Iraqi freedom in 2003, along with the devastation caused by the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, have refocused the attention of navies across the world on amphibious missions and manoeuvre from the sea. To this end, across six continents, acquisitions and developments of new amphibious landing support ships and landing craft are proceeding apace.

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Navies from war to relief: the start of operation Iraqi freedom in 2003, along with the devastation caused by the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, have refocused the attention of navies across the world on amphibious missions and manoeuvre from the sea. To this end, across six continents, acquisitions and developments of new amphibious landing support ships and landing craft are proceeding apace.

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The post-Cold War environment has pushed these vessels to the forefront of expeditionary operation requirements--particularly the large Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) and Landing Platform Dock (LPD) ships which can embark helicopters, tilt-rotors, fixed-wing aircraft, conventional landing craft and air-cushioned landing craft, while also offering substantial space for cargo, troops, equipment and materiel storage. Moreover, many of these vessels also boast additional facilities such as hospitals and medical treatment areas along with 'plug-and-play' command and control facilities from which a commander can establish a headquarters to direct land or coastal operations.

The attractions are obvious. In an global environment where intervention in a lawless failed state is no longer discounted, the amphibious support ship provides a mobile military base from which humanitarian relief, peacekeeping and enforcement, war-fighting, command and control and re-supply can be all be performed--perhaps simultaneously, from one platform. This also removes the need t...

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