Helicopter carrier facts for kids

The Dixmude, a Mistral class helicopter carrier of the French Navy

A helicopter carrier is a special kind of aircraft carrier that mainly carries helicopters. Think of it as a floating airport, but mostly for helicopters! These ships can also carry other types of aircraft that can take off and land vertically or with a short runway, like some airplanes. Many countries use helicopter carriers because they are often less expensive to build and operate than larger aircraft carriers that carry many different kinds of jets.

What is a Helicopter Carrier?

A helicopter carrier is a large warship designed to launch, recover, and maintain many helicopters. Unlike traditional aircraft carriers that have long runways for jets, helicopter carriers usually have a large, flat deck that allows helicopters to take off and land easily. They also have big hangars below deck where helicopters can be stored and repaired.

What Do They Do?

Helicopter carriers are very versatile ships, meaning they can do many different jobs. They are not just for fighting; they play a big role in helping people too.

Carrying Helicopters and More

The main job of a helicopter carrier is to transport and operate helicopters. These helicopters can be used for many tasks, such as:

• Transporting troops: Moving soldiers and their equipment quickly to different places.
• Anti-submarine warfare: Using special helicopters to find and track enemy submarines.
• Search and rescue: Helping people who are lost at sea or in disaster areas.
• Supporting ground operations: Providing air support for soldiers on land.

Sometimes, these ships can also carry special airplanes that can take off and land like helicopters, without needing a long runway.

Helping People in Need

Helicopter carriers are also very important during natural disasters or humanitarian crises. Because they can carry many helicopters and a lot of supplies, they can:

• Deliver food, water, and medical aid to areas that are hard to reach by land.
• Evacuate people from dangerous places.
• Act as a floating hospital or command center during emergencies.

Their ability to reach remote areas makes them incredibly valuable when disaster strikes.

Why Are They Important?

Helicopter carriers are important for several reasons. First, they offer great flexibility to a country's navy. They can perform many different missions, from military operations to helping civilians. Second, they are often more affordable than the very large aircraft carriers that carry fighter jets. This means more countries can afford to have them, which helps with defense and humanitarian efforts around the world. Their ability to deploy helicopters quickly makes them a key asset for modern navies.

Images for kids

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  JDS Hyūga, a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Hyūga-class helicopter destroyer

See also

In Spanish: Portahelicópteros para niños