Amphibious command ship

USS Mount Whitney
Class overview
NameBlue Ridge Class
Builders
  • Philadelphia Naval Shipyard - LCC 19
  • Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. - LCC 20
OperatorsUnited States Navy
In commission1970 - Present
Completed2
Active2
General characteristics
Displacement18,874 long tons (19,176.89 metric tons) full load
Length634 ft (193 m)
Beam108 ft (33 m)
Draft26 ft 9 in (8.15 m) full load
PropulsionTwo boilers, one geared turbine, one shaft; 22,000 hp (16,000 kW)
Speed23 kn (26 mph; 43 km/h)
Range13,000 nmi (24,000 km; 15,000 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h)
Complement720 enlisted, 23 officers
Aircraft carriedAll helicopters except the CH-53 Sea Stallion can be carried

An amphibious command ship (LCC) of the United States Navy is a large, special-purpose ship, originally designed to command large amphibious invasions. However, as amphibious invasions have become unlikely,[1] they are now used as general command ships, and serve as floating headquarters for the various combatant commands. Currently, they are assigned to the 6th and 7th Fleets as flagships.

  1. ^ "The questionable future of amphibious assault". Brookings. Retrieved 19 August 2023.