Helicopter carrier

A helicopter carrier is a type of aircraft carrier whose primary purpose is to operate helicopters. It has a large flight deck that occupies a substantial part of the deck, which can extend the full length of the ship like HMS Ocean (L12) of the Royal Navy (RN), or extend only partway, usually aft, as in the Soviet Navy's Moskva-class helicopter carrier or in the Chinese Navy's Type 0891A. It often also has a hangar deck for the storage and maintenance of rotorwing aircraft.

Pure helicopter carriers are difficult to define in the 21st century. The advent of STOVL aircraft such as the Harrier jump jet, and now the F-35, have complicated the classification; the United States Navy's Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, for instance, carries six to eight Harriers as well as over 20 helicopters. 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 the Wasp class, are also capable of embarking troops such as marines and landing them ashore; they are classified as amphibious assault ships.

Helicopter carriers have been used as anti-submarine warfare carriers and amphibious assault ships.

HMS Hermes (R12) 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.

Retired helicopter carriers

 * 🇬🇧 HMS Albion (R07) (Royal Navy) – converted from light carrier and operating in helicopter carrier role from 1962 to 1973
 * 🇮🇹 ITALIAN CRUISER Andrea Doria (Italian Navy) – an Andrea Doria-class cruiser helicopter cruiser active from 1964 to 1992
 * 🇺🇸 USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) (United States Navy) – Wasp-class amphibious assault ship landing helicopter dock, active 1998–2020
 * 🇬🇧 HMS Bulwark (R08) (Royal Navy) – converted from light carrier and operating in helicopter carrier role from 1960 to 1981
 * 🇮🇹 ITALIAN CRUISER Caio Duilio (Italian Navy) - an Andrea Doria-class helicopter cruiser active from 1964 to 1989
 * 🇺🇸 USCGC Cobb (WPG-181) (US Coast Guard), decommissioned in 1946 – world's first helicopter carrier.
 * 🇬🇧 HMS Illustrious (R06) (Royal Navy) – an Invincible-class aircraft carrier light aircraft carrier, which operated as a helicopter carrier when HMS Ocean was being refitted.
 * 🇺🇸 USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2) (United States Navy) – lead of the seven-ship Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship, active from the early 1960s to the early 2000s
 * 🇫🇷 FRENCH CRUISER Jeanne d'Arc (French Navy), decommissioned in 2010
 * SOVIET HELICOPTER CARRIER Leningrad (Soviet Navy) – second of the two-ship Moskva-class helicopter carrier - active 1969–1991
 * SOVIET HELICOPTER CARRIER Moskva (Soviet Navy) – lead of the two-ship Moskva class, active 1967–1991
 * 🇬🇧 ex-HMS Ocean (L12) (Royal Navy) – helicopter carrier 1998–2018, decommissioned March 2018.
 * Sold to Brazil in February 2018, renamed Atlântico
 * 🇮🇹 ITALIAN CRUISER Vittorio Veneto (Italian Navy) – a helicopter cruiser active from 1969 to 2003