What is a ghost ship?

• A. A gap the size of an AC that is basically a placeholder for if an AC needs to move over to during the heavy left/right formations
• B. A ship detached from the fleet
• C. A decoy landing craft
• D. A supply vessel in reserve

Answer: (A)

In landing zone and pickup zone operations, a ghost ship is a deliberately empty slot in the formation. It’s a space about the size of one aircraft that acts as a placeholder so an aircraft can move laterally or shift position during heavy left/right maneuvers without disrupting the rest of the formation. It’s not a real vessel; it’s a planned gap used to maintain spacing, timing, and safety as aircraft reallocate spots.

This isn’t about an actual ship detached from the fleet, a decoy landing craft, or a supply vessel in reserve. Those are real assets or deception tools, whereas a ghost ship is simply a designated empty position to keep the formation flexible and controlled during complex movements.