NAVAL AIR: The Turkish Variation April 21, 2021: Turkey expects to receive its first LHD (Landing Helicopter Dock) amphibious assault ship in mid-2021. Turkey now has a new, and novel, plan on how use this ship. Construction began in 2016 after Turkey decided, in late 2013 to buy an LHD from Spain. Turkey was following the example of Australia which, in 2007, held an LHD supplier competition and also selected the Spanish Navantia class LHD design. This is a 27,000-ton ship that is very similar to the U.S. San Antonio class LPD. Both LHDs and LPDs look similar. The main difference is that LHDs are designed more to land troops via helicopter while LPDs put more emphasis on using landing craft. Both classes of ship can carry out helicopter and beach landings.