Japan's other "carriers" - Osumi Class Tank Landing Ship:
The Osumi class of ampbious ships caused quite a stir in the western Pacific when they were developed and commissioned between 1998 and 2003.
With the obvious look of small carriers, the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) went to great ends to assure those nations who expressed concern that these ships were not offensive weapons (prohibited by the Japanese constitution) and that they were not "aircraft carriers".
In an effort to reach that end politically, the ships were designated as Landing Ship Tanks (LST) officially, though they are clearly of a more Amphibious assault nature, providing a well deck for two air cushioned landing craft and other traditional landing craft, and air assault via helicopter from on board their large deck.
The well deck streteches forward to the island and houses two LCACs. Forward, there is a 100m hanger deck below the main deck, and a single elevator accesses tis space.
Modernization plans call for the hanger elevator to be enlargened to accomodate a V-22 Osprey aircraft, and for the flight deck to be treated to withstand the heat a Oprey VTOL aircraft would generate. The hanger spaces bcan also be used for vehicle storage where the fighting and/or armored vehicles can access the well deck. Helicopters (and later Ospreys) can also be stored and serviced there.
The Osumi class is a amphibious assault vessel. In a pinch its helos could serve in either a mine-hunting/clearing role or in ASW duties, but it is clear the vessel was in fact designed for amphibious operations. A designation of LPD or even a small LPH would be more accurate given the role of these vessels.
Displacement: 8,900 tons standard 14,000 tons full load
Length: 178 m
Beam: 25.8 m
Draught: 17.0 m
Draft: 6.0 m
Propulsion: 2 × Mitsui 16V42M-A Diesel (2 shafts propulsion, 26,000 bhp.)
1 × bow thruster
Speed: 22 knots (41 km/h)
Complement: 138 crews + (330 troops)
Sensors and processing systems: OPS-14C air search radar,OPS-28D surface search radar,OPS-20 navigation radar, TACAN Electronic warfare and decoys: 4 × Mark 36 SRBOC
Armament: 2 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS,2 × 12.7mm machine gun M2
Aircraft carried: up to 8 helicopter
Notes: Two Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC)
Troops: 330/1000 long/short duration up to 10 main battle tanks