Amphibious Command Ship
Encyclopedia
Amphibious Command Ships (LCC) in the United States Navy
are large, special purpose ships, originally designed to command large amphibious invasions, however, as amphibious invasions have become unlikely, they are now used as general command ship
s, and serve as floating headquarters for the various combatant commands. Currently, they are assigned to the 6th and 7th
fleets as flagship
s.
of the previous class of amphibious force command ships. She was designed as an amphibious force flagship, a floating command post with advanced communications equipment and extensive combat information spaces to be used by the amphibious forces commander and landing force commander during large-scale operations.
this type of ship was termed Amphibious Force Flagship (AGC).
It was not a specific ship class, but rather one that had appropriate radio capabilities and space for command operations. Typically a merchant ship under construction would be completed as an Amphibious Force Flagship, but some ships were refitted for this purpose.
The original meaning of AGC was based on the General Auxiliary class of miscellaneous unclassified vessels AG and sub-class C, with 3 possible meanings; Command, Control, or Communications, but it became a anacronym, since all AGCs were called Amphibious Force Flagships.
The British used the term Landing Ship Infantry (Headquarters)
for this type of ship.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
are large, special purpose ships, originally designed to command large amphibious invasions, however, as amphibious invasions have become unlikely, they are now used as general command ship
Command ship
Command ships serve as the flagships of the Commander of a fleet. They provide communications, office space, and accommodations for a fleet commander and his staff, and serve to coordinate fleet activities....
s, and serve as floating headquarters for the various combatant commands. Currently, they are assigned to the 6th and 7th
United States Seventh Fleet
The Seventh Fleet is the United States Navy's permanent forward projection force based in Yokosuka, Japan, with units positioned near Japan and South Korea. It is a component fleet force under the United States Pacific Fleet. At present, it is the largest of the forward-deployed U.S. fleets, with...
fleets as flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
s.
Active ships
- USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19)USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19)USS Blue Ridge is the lead ship of the two Blue Ridge-class command ships of the U.S. Navy, and is the command ship of the United States Seventh Fleet. Her primary role is to provide Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence support to the commander and staff of the United...
- USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20)USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20)The USS Mount Whitney is a Blue Ridge class command ship of the US Navy; it is the flagship of the Sixth Fleet. She is also the command and control ship for the Commander Joint Command Lisbon and the Commander Striking Force NATO...
Previous ships
USS Mount McKinley (AGC-7/LCC-7) was the lead shipLead ship
The lead ship or class leader is the first of a series or class of ships all constructed according to the same general design. The term is applicable military ships and larger civilian craft.-Overview:...
of the previous class of amphibious force command ships. She was designed as an amphibious force flagship, a floating command post with advanced communications equipment and extensive combat information spaces to be used by the amphibious forces commander and landing force commander during large-scale operations.
World War II
In World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
this type of ship was termed Amphibious Force Flagship (AGC).
It was not a specific ship class, but rather one that had appropriate radio capabilities and space for command operations. Typically a merchant ship under construction would be completed as an Amphibious Force Flagship, but some ships were refitted for this purpose.
- USS Ancon (AGC-4)USS Ancon (AGC-4)USS Ancon was an ocean liner acquired by the United States Navy during World War II and converted to a combined headquarters and communications command ship.-Early civilian service:...
- USCGC Duane (WPG-33)USCGC Duane (WPG-33)The USCG Cutter Duane was a cutter in the United States Coast Guard. Her keel was laid on May 1, 1935 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
- USS Biscayne (AVP-11)USS Biscayne (AVP-11)USS Biscayne , later AGC-18, was a United States Navy Barnegat-class seaplane tender in commission as a seaplane tender from 1941 to 1943 and as an amphibious force flagship from 1943 to 1946.-Construction and commissioning:...
The original meaning of AGC was based on the General Auxiliary class of miscellaneous unclassified vessels AG and sub-class C, with 3 possible meanings; Command, Control, or Communications, but it became a anacronym, since all AGCs were called Amphibious Force Flagships.
The British used the term Landing Ship Infantry (Headquarters)
HMS Hilary (1931)
HMS Hilary, was a former passenger liner launched in 1931, as SS Hilary, which was requisitioned by the Royal Navy during the Second World War and used as an ocean boarding vessel in the North Atlantic. It was later converted back to a merchantman but subsequently recommissioned back into the Royal...
for this type of ship.
See also
- List of Amphibious Command Ships (AGC, LCC)
External links
- U.S. Navy Factfile
- LCC 19 Blue Ridge class at GlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.org, launched in 2000, is a public policy organization focusing on the fields of defense, space exploration, intelligence, weapons of mass destruction and homeland security...
- p177 AGC ships of the U.S. fleet
- p261 U.S. amphibious ships and craft: Command and Control