PHIBRON

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PHIBRON is the United States Navy abbreviation for Amphibious Squadron. A PHIBRON usually consists of three amphibious ships, typically one LHD, an LSD and an LPD. When the ships of a PHIBRON are loaded up with the forces of a Marine Expeditionary Unit and some additional Navy units (including landing craft from two or more Assault Craft Units or ACU), it is designated as an Amphibious Ready Group (ARG). The officer in charge of PHIBRON SIX is designated COMPHIBRON SIX or Commander Amphibious Squadron Six.

Before the advent of modern helicopter-oriented amphibious warfare, the amphibious squadron was made up differently, depending on the era. During the 1960s, a typical squadron might consist of an LPH, an LSD, an AKA, one or two LSTs, and, especially if there were only one LST, an APD. The LPH provided helicopters for vertical envelopment, the LSD and AKA provided landing craft, and the LST provided the ability to discharge its cargo directly onto the beach. The destroyer-like APD provided limited gunfire support and fast defense of the squadron. It frequently also carried a UDT unit or other similar troops.

[edit] List of amphibious squadrons