Welldeck

Welldeck, rarely also well deck, deep deck or Lowered deck (english well deck) referred to in the so-called corrugated deck or well deck ships the uncovered area of the main deck between back and maneuver deck. On older ships and yachts, this area is often referred to as Versaufloch because it is washed over by about upcoming breakers.

Also, the two-story cargo space in the rear amphibious assault ships, which can be flooded on demand and aft sail through a large gate of entrained landing craft is called Welldeck.

Functioning of corrugated decks on military ships

During the crossing, the gate is closed and dry the well deck. The ship reaches its operational area, so large side ballast tanks are filled with water until the stern of the ship lowers so far into the sea, that the corrugated deck is flooded. The additional immersion depth is up to 10 meters. The ship remains stationary or makes slow progress.

From inside the transport deck amphibious assault ships sail cars, trucks, and tanks on a ramp in the landing craft. The fully loaded landing craft leaves over the now lowered gate to the hull of the ship and controls towards the coast, there to unload its cargo. The ships are about 50-100 km from the coast in international waters and largely protected from enemy fire. This operation is way too over-the- Horizon ( OTH, dt below the horizon ) called.

For operation with LCAC hovercraft -type flooding the well deck is not necessary. These can slide over the open gate as a ramp directly onto the sea surface. The Amtrac swimming tanks of the Marine Corps do not need a landing craft, but drive from the well deck directly into the open sea.

Well decks on Docklandungsschiffen can be over 100 m long, so that some of the rapid loading a large opening at the top amidships was installed by loading crane.

All relevant U.S. Navy ships have each year to qualify for this amphibious operations, called the Well Deck Certification.

Dimensions of the corrugated deck known ship classes:

More Docklandungsschiffe operated by the Italian, Dutch and Spanish Navy.