Ahelicopter carrier is a type ofaircraft carrier whose primary purpose is to operatehelicopters. It has a largeflight deck that occupies a substantial part of the deck, which can extend the full length of the ship likeHMS Ocean[1] of theRoyal Navy (RN), or extend only partway, usually aft, as in theSoviet Navy'sMoskva class[2] or in theChinese Navy'sType 0891A. It often also has ahangar deck for the storage and maintenance of rotorwing aircraft.
Pure helicopter carriers are difficult to define in the 21st century. The advent ofSTOVL aircraft such as theHarrier jump jet, and now theF-35B, have complicated the classification; theUnited States Navy'sWasp class, for instance, carries six to eight Harriers as well as over 20 helicopters.[3] Only smaller carriers unable to operate the Harrier, and older, pre-Harrier-era carriers, can be regarded as true helicopter carriers. In many cases, other carriers, able to operate STOVL aircraft, are classified as "light aircraft carriers". Other vessels, such as theWasp class, are also capable of embarking troops such asmarines and landing them ashore; they are classified aslanding helicopter docks.[3]
Helicopter carriers have been used asanti-submarine warfare carriers andamphibious assault ships.[4]
HMS Hermes and two of her sisters were 22,000 ton fleet carriers converted to "commando carriers" only able to operate helicopters.Hermes was later converted to a STOVL carrier.
| Country | Navy | In service | In reserve | Fitting out | Under construction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Algeria |  Algerian National Navy | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Australia |  Royal Australian Navy | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Brazil | Brazilian Navy | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 China |  People's Liberation Army Navy | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 (8 planned total) |
 Egypt |  Egyptian Navy | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 France |  French Navy | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 India |  Indian Navy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (4 planned total) |
 Italy |  Italian Navy | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
 Japan |  Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Portugal |  Portuguese Navy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
 Qatar | Qatari Emiri Navy | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
 Russia |  Russian Navy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 (3 planned total) |
 South Korea |  Republic of Korea Navy | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Spain | Spanish Navy | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Thailand |  Royal Thai Navy | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Turkey | Turkish Naval Forces | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 United States |  United States Navy | 9 | 3 | 0 | 2 (11 planned total) |
| Country | Name | Length | Tonnage (MT) | Class | Propulsion | Type | Classification | Commission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Algeria | Kalaat Béni Abbès | 143 143 m (469 ft) | 008800 8800 t | Improved San Giusto (modifiedSan Giorgio class) | Conventional | STOVL | Amphibious transport dock[a] | 4 September 2014 |
| Australia | Canberra | 230.82 230.82 m (757 ft 3 in) | 027500 27,500 t (27,100 long tons) | Canberra (modifiedJuan Carlos I) | Conventional | STOVL | Landing helicopter dock | 28 November 2014 |
| Australia | Adelaide | 230.82 230.82 m (757 ft 3 in) | 027500 27,500 t (27,100 long tons) | Canberra (modifiedJuan Carlos I) | Conventional | STOVL | Landing helicopter dock | 4 December 2015 |
| Brazil | Atlântico | 203.4 203.4 m (667 ft 4 in) | 021500 21,500 t (21,200 long tons) | Ocean | Conventional | VTOL | Multipurpose helicopter carrier | 29 June 2018[5] |
| China | Hainan | 232 m (761 ft 2 in) | 36,000 t (35,000 long tons) | Type 075 (NATO reporting name Yushen class) | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 23 April 2021[6] |
| China | Guangxi | 232 m (761 ft 2 in) | 36,000 t (35,000 long tons) | Type 075 (NATO reporting name Yushen class) | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 26 December 2021[7][8][9] |
| China | Anhui | 232 m (761 ft 2 in) | 36,000 t (35,000 long tons) | Type 075 (NATO reporting name Yushen class) | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 1 October 2022[10][11] |
| China | Hubei | 232 m (761 ft 2 in) | 36,000 t (35,000 long tons) | Type 075 (NATO reporting name Yushen class) | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 1 August 2025 |
| China | Shichang | 125 125 m (410 ft 1 in) | 09500 9,500 t (9,300 long tons) | Type 0891A | Conventional | VTOL | Training ship | January 1997 |
| Egypt | Gamal Abdel Nasser | 199 199 m (652 ft 11 in) | 021300 21,300 t (21,000 long tons) | Mistral | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 2 June 2016[12] |
| Egypt | Anwar El Sadat | 199 199 m (652 ft 11 in) | 021300 21,300 t (21,000 long tons) | Mistral | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 16 September 2016 |
| France | Mistral | 199 199 m (652 ft 11 in) | 021300 21,300 t (21,000 long tons) | Mistral | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | December 2005 |
| France | Tonnerre | 199 199 m (652 ft 11 in) | 021300 21,300 t (21,000 long tons) | Mistral | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | December 2006 |
| France | Dixmude | 199 199 m (652 ft 11 in) | 021300 21,300 t (21,000 long tons) | Mistral | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | December 2011 |
| Japan | Kaga | 248 248 m (813 ft 8 in) | 027000 27,000 t (27,000 long tons) | Izumo | Conventional | VTOL | Helicopter destroyer | 22 March 2017 |
| Japan | Izumo | 248 248 m (813 ft 8 in) | 027000 27,000 t (27,000 long tons) | Izumo | Conventional | VTOL | Helicopter destroyer | 25 March 2015 |
| Japan | Hyūga | 197 197 m (646 ft 4 in)[13] | 013950 19,000 t (19,000 long tons) | Hyūga | Conventional | VTOL | Helicopter destroyer | 18 March 2009 |
| Japan | Ise | 197 197 m (646 ft 4 in)[13] | 013950 19,000 t (19,000 long tons) | Hyūga | Conventional | VTOL | Helicopter destroyer | 16 March 2011 |
| South Korea | Dokdo | 199 199 m (652 ft 11 in) | 018800 18,800 t (18,500 long tons) | Dokdo | Conventional | VTOL | Landing platform helicopter | 3 July 2007 |
| South Korea | Marado | 199 199 m (652 ft 11 in) | 018800 18,800 t (18,500 long tons) | Dokdo | Conventional | VTOL | Landing platform helicopter | 28 June 2021 |
| Spain | Juan Carlos I | 230.82 230.82 m (757 ft 3 in) | 027079 27,079 t (26,651 long tons) | Juan Carlos I | Conventional | STOVL | Landing helicopter dock | 30 September 2010 |
| Thailand | Chakri Naruebet | 182.65 182.65 m (599 ft 3 in) | 11486 11,486 t (11,305 long tons) | Príncipe de Asturias | Conventional | STOVL | Helicopter carrier ("Light aircraft carrier") | 27 March 1997 |
| Turkey | Anadolu | 232 m (761 ft 2 in) | 27,079 t (26,651 long tons) | Anadolu | Conventional | STOVL | Landing helicopter dock | 10 April 2023 |
| US | America | 257.3 257.3 m (844 ft 2 in) | 045000 45,000 t (44,000 long tons) | America[14] | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter assault | 11 October 2014[15] |
| US | Tripoli | 257.3 257.3 m (844 ft 2 in) | 045000 45,000 t (44,000 long tons) | America | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter assault | 15 July 2020 |
| US | Wasp | 257 257 m (843 ft 2 in) | 040532 40,532 t (39,892 long tons) | Wasp[14] | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 29 July 1989 |
| US | Essex | 257 257 m (843 ft 2 in) | 040650 40,650 t (40,010 long tons) | Wasp | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 17 October 1992 |
| US | Kearsarge | 257 257 m (843 ft 2 in) | 040500 40,500 t (39,900 long tons) | Wasp | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 16 October 1993 |
| US | Boxer | 257 257 m (843 ft 2 in) | 040722 40,722 t (40,079 long tons) | Wasp | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 11 February 1995 |
| US | Bataan | 257 257 m (843 ft 2 in) | 040358 40,358 t (39,721 long tons) | Wasp | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 20 September 1997 |
| US | Iwo Jima | 257 257 m (843 ft 2 in) | 040530 40,530 t (39,890 long tons) | Wasp | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 30 June 2001 |
| US | Makin Island | 258 258 m (846 ft 5 in) | 041649 41,649 t (40,991 long tons) | Wasp | Conventional | VTOL | Landing helicopter dock | 24 October 2009 |
Albion (Royal Navy) – converted from light carrier and operating in helicopter carrier role from 1962 to 1973Andrea Doria (Italian Navy) – anAndrea Doria-classhelicopter cruiser active from 1964 to 1992Bonhomme Richard (United States Navy) –Wasp-classlanding helicopter dock, active 1998–2020Bulwark (Royal Navy) – converted from light carrier and operating in helicopter carrier role from 1960 to 1981Caio Duilio (Italian Navy) - anAndrea Doria-class helicopter cruiser active from 1964 to 1989Cobb (US Coast Guard), decommissioned in 1946 – world's first helicopter carrier.Illustrious (Royal Navy) – anInvincible-class light aircraft carrier, which operated as a helicopter carrier when HMSOcean was being refitted.[16]Iwo Jima (United States Navy) – lead of the seven-shipIwo Jima class, active from the early 1960s to the early 2000sJeanne d'Arc (French Navy), decommissioned in 2010
Leningrad (Soviet Navy) – second of the two-shipMoskva class - active 1969–1991Moskva (Soviet Navy) – lead of the two-shipMoskva class, active 1967–1991 ex-Ocean (Royal Navy) – helicopter carrier 1998–2018, decommissioned March 2018.Vittorio Veneto (Italian Navy) – a helicopter cruiser active from 1969 to 2003
Media related toHelicopter carriers at Wikimedia Commons