Reading up on LSDs and LPDs, I'm wondering why the Type 071 was called an LPD in the first place. The difference between a US LPD and LSD is that the former has a smaller well-deck and carries more troops whereas LSDs carry more landing craft. Since the 071's well-deck takes up more than 2/3 of the ship's length and carries 4 Type 726s, would it not be more fitting to call them LSDs?
What distinguishes an LSD from an LPD is that the former (usually) lacks helicopter hangars. Also, the Harpers Ferry class LSD can only carry 2 LCACs, which is the same as the San Antonio LPD. Both the USN's Harpers Ferry class and the Whidbey Island class, as well as the British Bay class, Brazilian Thomaston class, and ROC Anchorage class, all lack hangars; all they have is helicopter landing pads. LSDs typically carry more heavy equipment (trucks, tanks, artillery, machinery, etc.) and less troops, and LPDs typically carry more troops and less heavy equipment. With the 071 this distinction is less necessary because it carriers 4 ACVs in addition to hangar facilities, and could easily be hauling heavy equipment to shore with any or all of its ACVs while simultaneously using its 4 helos to land troops and employing its side doors to launch swimming IFVs and tanks. That's why it is really not needed for the PLAN design a brand new LSD design to complete a PLAN ARG when they can simply use two 071 LPDs instead (4 of which are already commissioned, I believe). The 071's only tradeoff with the San Antonio is obviously less room for vehicles and troops overall given that much of its internal space is dedicated to the well deck (~57% not 2/3, BTW).
