Landing ship

Even Peter I skillfully combines the use of sailing fleet for battle on the water and Galernaya - for landing. And during the first world in the service of the Russian fleet had specially converted for desantirovaniya merchant ships and self-propelled barges. Actively used marine paratroopers during the Second World War. Particularly strong are many Marines and U.S. Army. After all, this country is far behind other world powers must first defend its maritime borders. Although the Soviet Union has a similar length of maritime boundaries - to build a landing ship is in no hurry. Only 20 years after the end of the world, was built first major ship. And all because of the fact that all power boards were thrown on the development of submarine fleet, more appropriate in the Cold War. The basis of the Soviet and then Russian Navy landing ships served medium.
The advantage of specialized landing ships to the reconstructed - the ability to boarding untrained coast. To direct the movement of troops from ship to land involve helicopters, various crafts, or simply in the water. Also from ships can be desantirovanie various armored vehicles - to the craft or its course (anfibii).
In the U.S., more preference is given to ships engaged in desantirovanie by helicopter. They belong to a class of large landing ship, because the size and functions are similar to aircraft carriers. For example, ordered the Military Marine Forces vertoletonosets dollars LHA6 will have a length of 281 meters. This is the largest ship of that class, which will be held 20-25 ships simultaneously.
Unlike the U.S., Russia focuses on ships and boats on the hovercraft that can prick landing directly on the beach without additional funds.