Which class has facilities for eight helicopters and is built to combine LSD and LPH features for troop and equipment transport?

• A. Amphibious Transport Dock (LPD)
• B. Dock Landing Ship (LSD)
• C. Amphibious Warfare Ship (LHD)
• D. Amphibious Assault Ship (LHA)

Answer: (A)

Think about amphibious ships as tools for moving Marines and gear from ship to shore by both water and air. An eight-helicopter capacity signals a ship that's built to carry a modest air wing but not a full aircraft-carrier tone. A vessel designed to blend LSD’s waterborne delivery with LPH-style helicopter transport sits in the middle: it can stage Marines and equipment from a well deck for water operations and also lift them ashore by air with a helicopter force. The Amphibious Transport Dock is designed to do just that—provide amphibious lift through landing craft while also supporting a helicopter detachment for air mobility. The other classes lean more toward one mode or the other (either heavy landing craft focus with limited aviation, or large flight decks and air wings without the same emphasis on a well deck), so they don’t match the described mix as well.