Editing Landing platform helicopter (section)

{{short description|Hull classification used by a number of the world's navies}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2008}}
[[File:Navio-Aeródromo Multipropósito Atlântico (NAM "Atlântico") (44210493302).jpg|thumb|[[Brazilian aircraft carrier Atlântico|NAM Atlântico]]]]
'''Landing platform helicopter''' ('''LPH''') is a term used by some navies to [[hull classification symbol|denote a type]] of [[amphibious warfare ship]] designed primarily to operate as a launch and recovery platform for helicopters and other [[VTOL]] aircraft. As such, they are considered a type of [[helicopter carrier]].

Under the NATO [[Standardization Agreement]] (STANAG) document for reporting vessels, LPH is a short form designator used for "Amphibious Assault Ship, Helicopter" defined as a "large helicopter carrier" for carrying and deploying around 1,800 assault troops using its own aircraft, but for which use of landing craft is "not a principal function". For ships of this hull classification in the [[Royal Navy]], LPH is a direct acronym for "Landing Platform Helicopter", while the [[United States Navy]] referred to its vessels within this classification as "Landing ship, Personnel, Helicopter",<ref name=Friedman2002>{{cite book|last=Friedman |first=Norman |title=U.S. Amphibious Ships and Craft: An Illustrated Design History |publisher=Naval Institute Press |year=2002 |series=Illustrated Design Histories |page=656 |isbn=1-55750-250-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oWX-x0b4pw4C&pg=PA218 }}</ref> and after 2006 as "amphibious assault ships". The etymology is L for amphibious, P for transport, and H for helicopter. Regardless of the terminology, all vessels classified as an LPH possess essentially similar capabilities.

The Royal Navy also used the term "Commando Carrier", which it applied to aircraft carriers converted to helicopter only operations. Prior to selling the vessel to the [[Brazilian Navy]] in 2018, the RN operated {{HMS|Ocean|L12|6}} as an LPH. Following the British government's decision to withdraw its [[Harrier Jump Jet|Harrier aircraft]] at the end of 2010, the former light fleet carrier {{HMS|Illustrious|R06|6}} also performed this role until decommissioning in 2014.

The LPH classification was used by the U.S. Navy for the [[amphibious assault ship]]s of the {{Sclass|Iwo Jima|amphibious assault ship|4}}, a converted {{Sclass|Casablanca|escort carrier}} and three converted {{Sclass|Essex|aircraft carrier}}s. No ships of this classification are currently in active service with the U.S. Navy, having been replaced with multi-purpose ships classified under NATO naming conventions as [[landing helicopter dock]] or [[landing helicopter assault]] ships.