Troika said:
Apart from a small part of the coastal plains, Taiwan is horrendous tank country. Especially for relatively heavy tanks like the 96/99s. The other problem for them is that the LST'd have to park right up, no loading on hovercrafts or swimming ashore.. which means that the beachead better already be secured. Their use would probably more be in the latter (landing of ancillary systems) than tanks.
LST is world war II technology when it comes to Amphibious Assault. The reasons are:
1.) LST's require beaches with a nice gradual slope for it to disembark its cargo. Beaches with prevalent shallow reefs, for example, will tear the bottoms of it.
2.) Prevalence of Antiship Missiles. LST's require "within the horizon" amphibious assault. That is, the defender can see you as you approach the beach at around 20 knots. That gives them time to acquire and shoot you with their truck mounted anti-ship missiles. Since you are within the horizon, targeting is very easy.
Those are just some of the reasons why the USN does not use LST's anymore. The USMC relies more on vertical envelopment (Air Assault) to secure the beachead. Followup forces include infantry on Amtracks and tank on smaller LST's or hover craft. Usually these are launched beyond the horizon, minimizing the threat posed by anti-ship missiles.
Popeye, may I ask an innocent question: Since the image above shows that the ship can carry aircraft, I wonder what's the difference between and aircraft-carrier and a LHA/LHD/LPH ?
In addition to Carrier strike groups, the USN also has 12 Expeditionary Strike Groups. An expeditionary strike group could include amphibious ships, a destroyer, cruiser, frigate, attack submarine and a P-3C Orion land-based aircraft. This mix allows Navy and Marine Corps forces to launch Marines and landing craft as warships and submarines strike inland targets with missiles and shells. Currently, each amphibious ready group is made up of an amphibious assault ship, a dock landing ship and an amphibious transport dock. Cruisers and destroyers deploy with carrier battle groups.
The Wasp Class LHD is one of the largest carriers in the world. It displaces 40,000 tons (only the Charles de Gaulle, Kuznetsov, and US carriers are larger). What makes its an LHA instead of a harrier carrier is the way it is employed. Typically its airwing consists of Marine and Navy VStol aircraft is designed to provide air support and airlift its embarked Marine battalion. In addition, it has a docking well at the rear that can housed hovercraft and landing ships. The Wasp Class has a second capability, in case of an emergency, as a "sea control ship". In this role, it is a carrier and employs its Harrier II, soon to be replaced by F-35B's, the way a carrier does. In this role, the Wasp Class is the most powerful "harrier carrier" out there.
This is actually an USN new LHA design.
