Hospital Ships: Giant Navy Vessels Saving Lives

Hospital ships are vessels designated as floating medical treatment facilities or hospitals, most of which are operated by the military forces of various countries. The U.S. Navy currently has two dedicated hospital ships: the USNS Mercy and the USNS Comfort, both of which are kept in a constant state of readiness to provide emergency care and support for disaster relief and humanitarian operations worldwide. These ships are large, with the Mercy and Comfort measuring 894 feet in length, and they are well-equipped with 12 operating rooms, a 1,000-bed hospital facility, radiological services, a blood bank, and more. The U.S. Navy has also announced plans for a new, smaller and more maneuverable expeditionary medical ship, the USNS Bethesda, which will join its fleet in the future.

The US Navy currently has two dedicated hospital ships

The USNS Mercy (T-AH-19) and USNS Comfort (T-AH-20) are easily identified by their white hulls and enormous red crosses painted on the sides. These markings signify their protected status under the Geneva Convention and the Hague Convention, which classifies attacks on hospital ships as war crimes. The ships are equipped with state-of-the-art medical facilities and are capable of providing a wide range of medical services.

The US Navy Hospital Ships program began in 1945 with the commissioning of two ships: the USS Mercy and the USS Relief. Since then, the program has expanded to include six ships, including the USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort. These ships are staffed by Navy doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals, and they are operated by the Military Sealift Command (MSC). The MSC's fleet includes over 120 ships, and its civilian-manned vessels are referred to as "United States Naval Ships" or USNS.

The Comfort-class ships, with a capacity of 1,032 beds, were decommissioned in 1946. Only one remains: the USS Comfort (AH-6), now a museum ship at the Battleship Missouri Museum in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. It was the first purpose-built hospital ship in the US Navy, constructed in 1921. During World War II, the Navy operated 15 hospital ships, including the USS Comfort, USS Hope, and USS Mercy, which were less elaborately equipped and medically staffed by Army personnel.

USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort are 894 feet long

The US Navy currently has two dedicated hospital ships: the USNS Mercy and the USNS Comfort. Both are kept in a constant state of readiness to deploy and provide emergency care for American combatant forces. When not in use for combat operations, they are deployed in support of disaster relief and humanitarian operations worldwide. The Comfort is layberthed in Norfolk, Virginia, and the Mercy in San Diego, California.

The USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort are 894 feet long, and the new USNS Bethesda, which is smaller at 361 feet, will join them soon. The USNS Mercy and Comfort are much larger than the Berlin-class replenishment ship Berlin, which is equipped with a container-based version of the large modular hospital MERZ, capable of holding 45 patients, and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Bay Class ships, which have a 14-bed medical facility that can be expanded in times of crisis.

The USNS Mercy and Comfort are also much larger than the Canberra-class landing helicopter dock, which has two operating rooms and a hospital ward, and the Mistral-class amphibious assault ship, which has an onboard hospital with 69 hospital beds, seven ICU beds, and an additional 50 beds if needed. These ships are also significantly larger than the Qiongsha-class cargo ships, which are fitted out as "ambulance transports", and the Shichang, a multi-role training ship with deck space that can accommodate modular medical units.

The USNS Mercy and Comfort are equipped with 12 fully-equipped operating rooms, a 1,000-bed hospital facility, including 88 ICU beds and 11 isolation ward beds, radiological services, a 5,000-unit blood bank, a full medical laboratory, pharmacy and optometry labs, and two oxygen-producing plants. They are operated by the Military Sealift Command (MSC), which provides ocean transportation for all branches of the US military.

USNS Bethesda will be smaller at 361 feet

The US Navy currently has two dedicated hospital ships: the USNS Mercy and the USNS Comfort. These ships are kept in a constant state of readiness to provide emergency care for American combatant forces, as well as disaster relief and humanitarian operations worldwide. Each ship houses 12 fully-equipped operating rooms, a 1,000-bed hospital facility, radiological services, a full medical laboratory, a pharmacy, optometry labs, and two oxygen-producing plants.

The Navy has announced plans to add a new class of expeditionary medical ship to its fleet, the USNS Bethesda. This ship will be smaller at 361 feet and more manoeuvrable, with a draft of only 15 feet to allow access to shallow ports. It will be faster, travelling at up to 30 knots and maintaining speeds over 18 knots for 5,000 nautical miles. The USNS Bethesda is designed to be more agile and versatile, reflecting the military's focus on preparing for future joint operations that require greater responsiveness and deployability.

The addition of the USNS Bethesda will bring the Navy's dedicated hospital ship count to three. This new ship will be significantly smaller than the existing USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort, which are both 894 feet in length. The USNS Bethesda's compact size and enhanced manoeuvrability will enable it to access shallower ports and navigate more efficiently in close-quarters situations.

Hospital ships have a long history, with the Athenian Navy's Therapia and the Roman Navy's Aesculapius potentially serving as early examples. The first purpose-built US Navy hospital ship was the USS Relief, commissioned in 1921. Today, hospital ships play a critical role in providing medical support during combat operations, disaster relief, and humanitarian missions. They are protected under the Second Geneva Convention of 1949, which prohibits military attacks on these vessels.

The USNS Bethesda will join the fleet as a state-of-the-art medical ship, enhancing the Navy's capabilities in delivering emergency medical care and supporting joint force operations. Its smaller size and improved agility will enable the Navy to efficiently navigate and provide assistance in a wider range of environments, ensuring that medical support can be swiftly deployed where it is needed most.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary Bay Class ships have a 14-bed medical facility

Hospital ships are designated for primary use as floating medical treatment facilities or hospitals. Most are operated by the military forces of various countries, especially navies, and are used in or near war zones. The Second Geneva Convention of 1949 prohibits military attacks on hospital ships that meet specified requirements. However, marked vessels have not been completely free from attack.

The Royal Navy's Casualty 'Class' consists of just one vessel, RFA Argus, which is a Casualty Receiving Ship with a fully equipped 100-bed hospital. It has a four-bay operating theatre, a ten-bed critical care unit, a 20-bed high dependency unit, and a CT scanner. However, as it is armed, it cannot be classified as a hospital ship under the Geneva Convention and does not display the International Red Cross symbol.

Amphibious assault ships, such as the Wasp-class, have extensive medical capabilities, with 6 operating rooms, 14 ICU beds, 46 hospital beds, and medical imaging capabilities. They can also expand their medical capacity to 600 beds, making them the second-largest hospitals at sea.

The size and capabilities of hospital ships vary, but they play a crucial role in providing medical support in war zones and during humanitarian crises.

USS Relief was the first purpose-built US Navy hospital ship

The USS Relief (AH-1) was the first purpose-built US Navy hospital ship. It was commissioned in 1921, and on February 15, 1921, it set sail with eleven nurses on board—the first Navy women ever to be assigned to a ship's company. The USS Relief was the sixth ship bearing the name Relief since 1836 and was the only naval vessel constructed from the keel up as a floating hospital. It was also the first to be bestowed a hull number.

The USS Relief played a significant role in the history of military nursing. It was built with special quarters for Navy nurses and was equipped with "ambulance motor boats" that could transport patients, dentists, and physicians. During its wartime service, the ship admitted approximately 16,159 patients and evacuated over 10,000 wounded from campaigns across the Pacific during World War II. It earned five battle stars, the second-most of any hospital ship in that war.

The USS Relief served in various locations, including Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Peleliu, Saipan-Tinian, and Okinawa. After the war, it participated in the repatriation of American POWs and served as a stationary hospital for the 1st Marine Division in Taku, China. It returned to Norfolk, Virginia, on February 28, 1946, and was decommissioned on July 19, 1946, after nearly 26 years of service.

Hospital ships are naval vessels designated as floating medical treatment facilities or hospitals. They are operated by military forces, mainly navies, and are intended for use in or near war zones. The Second Geneva Convention of 1949 prohibits attacks on hospital ships that meet specific requirements, and these vessels display large Red Crosses or Red Crescents to signify their protected status.

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