Ship status is indicated as either currently active [A] (including ready reserve), inactive [I], or precommissioning [P].

There have been four generations of amphibious warfare ships, with each generation having more capability than the previous: During the naval build-up for World War II, almost 200 Maritime Commission (MARCOM) standard designs were converted to US Navy amphibious warfare ships.

With the appearance of higher speed submarines at the end of World War II, the US Navy decided that all new amphibious warfare ships would have to have a minimum speed of 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) to increase their chances of survival.

The High Speed Transport destroyer conversions (APD/LPR), the Landing Platform Docks (LPD), and all new ships with a full flight deck (LPH, LHA, LHD) would meet this criterion.

The other major types would see relatively small numbers of new ships constructed with this 20 knot requirement, with the last appearing in 1969.

[1] Amphibious warfare ships were considered by the US Navy to be auxiliaries and were classed with hull classification symbols beginning with 'A' until 1942.

Littoral Combat Ships also use 'L' hull symbols but are not solely intended for amphibious warfare.

In 2015 the US Navy created new hull classification symbols that began with an 'E' to designate 'expeditionary' vessels.

One major defect of the LPH concept was that these ships did not carry landing craft to disembark Marines when weather or hostile anti-aircraft systems grounded helicopters; only Inchon would be modified to carry two landing craft.

In such situations the LPH would be reliant on landing craft supplied by other ships, which proved awkward in practice.

This defect would drive the design of the Tarawa-class LHA, in effect a LPH with a well deck.

Casablanca class: MC type S4-S2-BB3 The Landing Platform Dock (LPD) concept began as a compromise design, an attempt to build a ship with much more capability than a Landing Ship Dock (LSD) - the LPD superficially resembles an LSD with an enlarged flight deck - but without the expense of a LPH.

Two of these, La Salle and Coronado, would be redesignated as auxiliary command ships (AGF).

San Antonio class The LSD came as a result of a British requirement during World War II for a vessel that could carry large landing craft across the seas at speed.

The first LSDs could carry 36 Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM) at 16 knots (30 km/h) in a flooding well deck, the first ships with this capability.

Late in the war they were modified with the addition of a temporary superdeck over the well deck; this could carry vehicles, support helicopter operations, or be removed for outsized cargo.

Harpers Ferry class The APM hull classification was short-lived; it was changed to Landing Ship Dock (LSD).

Paul Revere class: MA type C4-S-1A Two transports with the hull symbol AP, USS George F. Elliott (AP-13) and USS Leedstown (AP-73), had been configured as attack transports but were sunk in 1942 before the introduction of the APA hull symbol on 1 February 1943.

Paul Revere class: MA type C4-S-1A In 1969 the remaining destroyer escorts which had been converted into High-speed transports (APD)s were reclassified as Amphibious transports, small (LPR)s. Charles Lawrence class

During World War II a number of small boats were built to direct the movements of landing craft as they approached beaches.

[42] The United States Navy built 932 Landing Craft Infantry ships in World War II.

The United States Navy built the LCU 1466, 1610 and 1627 classes after World War II.

[44] Seventy old LCUs (likely ex-LCTs) were retired from amphibious duties and reclassified as Harbor utility craft (YFU).

Towards the end of World War II the United States Navy built 558 Landing Ship Medium (LSM) type vessels across three classes.

They were originally designed under the classification Landing Craft Tank - Mark 7 but were reclassified after exceeding 200 feet in length.

As of February 2023 the US Marine Corps has proposed the purchase of 18 to 35 modern LSMs; this LSM concept was previously known as the Light Amphibious Warship (LAW).

[48] The ATL hull classification was short-lived; it was changed to Landing Ship Tank (LST).

[49] The World War II LSVs were converted from surplus minelayers (CM) and netlayers (AN) into ships which could carry and launch amphibious vehicles.

[52] Thirteen Patrol Craft Sweepers (which were built on 134-foot YMS-1-class minesweeper hulls) were converted into amphibious landing control vessel during World War II and reclassified as Patrol Craft Sweeper, Control.

Montford Point class The Mobile landing platform (MLP) was reclassified as the Expeditionary transfer dock (ESD) on 4 September 2015.