Jordan Ellis
Hospital ships are vessels designated as floating medical treatment facilities or hospitals, most often operated by the military forces (mainly navies) of various countries. The first purpose-built hospital ship in the US Navy was the USS Relief, which was commissioned in 1921. However, the history of hospital ships goes back much further, with the Athenian Navy's Therapia and the Roman Navy's Aesculapius as possible examples of ancient hospital ships. During World War I, many hospital ships were attacked, and they continue to face threats despite the Second Geneva Convention of 1949 prohibiting military attacks on them. These ships have played a crucial role in providing medical assistance in or near war zones and have evolved over time to incorporate modern medical facilities and helicopter transport capabilities.
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What You'll Learn
The first US Navy hospital ship was the USS Relief, commissioned in 1921
The US Navy has used hospital ships since the 19th century, when redundant warships were used as moored hospitals for seamen. However, the first US Navy hospital ship to be commissioned was the USS Relief, which set sail on 28 December 1920, commanded by Cmdr. Richmond C. Holcomb.
The USS Relief was the first purpose-built hospital ship in the US Navy. It was designed and built from the keel up as a hospital ship, with a bed capacity of 500 patients. It was one of the world's most modern and well-equipped hospital ships when it was launched. The ship was constructed by the Philadelphia Navy Yard and was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet.
The USS Relief was unique in that it was the first naval vessel ever constructed as a floating hospital. It was equipped with "ambulance motor boats" that could transport multiple stretcher and ambulatory patients at a time. These boats were also used to transport dentists and physicians through the fleet for "ship calls". The ship was also notable for being the first Navy ship to have women assigned to its company, with eleven nurses on board when it set sail in February 1921.
The USS Relief served the Atlantic Fleet until the conclusion of the winter-spring maneuvers of 1923, which took the ship to Cuba and Panama Bay. It then departed the Panama Canal Zone for San Diego, California, on 31 March 1923, arriving on 12 April. There, it replaced the USS Mercy as the hospital ship for the Pacific Fleet. The USS Relief participated in fleet battle problems conducted northward to Alaska and westward to Hawaii.
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Hospital ships are protected under the Second Geneva Convention
Hospital ships are designated for use as floating medical treatment facilities or hospitals, and most are operated by the military forces of various countries, often navies. The first purpose-built hospital ship in the US Navy was the USS Relief, which was commissioned in 1921. During World War II, the US Navy and Army operated hospital ships with different purposes. Naval hospital ships were fully equipped hospitals designed to receive casualties directly from the battlefield and provide logistical support to front-line medical teams.
The Geneva Conventions and their additional protocols outline the protection of medical units and personnel during times of armed conflict. Medical units, including hospital ships, are to be respected and protected, and all wounded, sick, and shipwrecked individuals are to be treated humanely, regardless of which party they belong to. Medical personnel assigned to conflict zones are also protected, whether they are military or civilian, and this protection extends to religious personnel attached to medical units.
Despite the protections afforded to hospital ships under international law, there have been instances of marked vessels being attacked during wartime. Notable examples include the HMHS Llandovery Castle in 1915, the Soviet hospital ship Armenia in 1941, and the AHS Centaur in 1943. While hospital ships are intended to be protected, their vulnerability in times of war underscores the ongoing challenges in upholding international humanitarian law and protecting medical personnel and facilities during armed conflicts.
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Hospital ships have been attacked during wartime
Hospital ships are designated for use as medical treatment facilities or hospitals and are typically operated by military forces, especially navies. They are intended to be used in or near war zones. While the Second Geneva Convention of 1949 prohibits military attacks on hospital ships, these vessels have not been completely free from attacks during wartime.
During World War II, two dozen hospital ships were sunk by enemy fire, and a critical hospital ship sustained a damaging attack in the war's final weeks. The USS Comfort, a US Navy hospital ship, was hit by a Japanese kamikaze pilot in a deliberate attack off Okinawa in April 1945. The plane struck the surgery unit, instantly killing six nurses, four surgeons, and seven patients. The attack also caused a massive explosion, injuring Doris Gardner Howard, a lieutenant in the US Army Nurse Corps.
The Soviet hospital ship Armenia was attacked in 1941, and the AHS Centaur was targeted in 1943. During World War I, the HMHS Llandovery Castle was sunk by a German U-boat in 1918, resulting in the loss of life for most of its crew and passengers. The German hospital ship Ophelia was seized by British naval forces, and the Austrian hospital ship Baron Call was attacked by torpedo in 1918 but survived. The Britannic, sister ship to the Olympic and Titanic, was sunk by a mine in 1916, killing 30 people.
These incidents highlight that even with protections under international law and the display of Red Cross or Red Crescent emblems, hospital ships have faced attacks during wartime. The vulnerability of these vessels underscores the risks associated with operating medical facilities in proximity to war zones.
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Hospital ships have been modernised with helicopter launching pads
Hospital ships, which are primarily floating medical treatment facilities or hospitals, have been in use since ancient times. The Athenian Navy's ship Therapia and the Roman Navy's ship Aesculapius may have been hospital ships, judging by their names. The first purpose-built US Navy hospital ship, the USS Relief, was commissioned in 1921. During World War II, the US Navy and Army used hospital ships differently. While Navy hospital ships were fully equipped hospitals for receiving casualties directly from battlefields, Army hospital ships were meant to evacuate patients from forward area Army hospitals to rear area hospitals or to the US.
Over time, hospital ships have evolved and modernised, with some now featuring helicopter launching pads. These helipads, or helidecks, are designated flat surfaces that allow helicopters to land and enable quick transportation to and from the ships. The Canberra-class landing helicopter dock, for instance, has two operating rooms and a hospital ward. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary Bay Class ships have a 14-bed medical facility that can be expanded during crises, along with an operating theatre. The Berlin-class replenishment ship Frankfurt am Main is equipped with an integrated MERZ (iMERZ) built into the hull, featuring two operating rooms, medical imaging capabilities, and a hospital ward.
The US Navy's Military Sealift Command also includes aviation-capable ships. The Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport vessel has a "Limited Medical Mission" role, with a combined forward resuscitative care capability and a limited Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The Flight II Variants of these ships are expected to be 338 feet long with a displacement of 2,400 metric tons. The Shichang, a multi-role training ship, has deck space for modular medical units, though its primary role is aviation training.
While hospital ships displaying large Red Crosses or Red Crescents are protected under the Second Geneva Convention, they have still been attacked during wartime. Examples include the HMHS Llandovery Castle in 1915, the Soviet hospital ship Armenia in 1941, and the AHS Centaur in 1943. Despite the risks, hospital ships continue to play a crucial role in providing medical support in or near war zones.
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The first Navy Nurse Corps was formed in 1908
The idea of a hospital ship is not new. In the 19th century, redundant warships were used as moored hospitals for seamen. The Athenian Navy had a ship named Therapia, and the Roman Navy had a ship named Aesculapius, indicating that they may have been hospital ships. The earliest British hospital ship may have been the vessel Goodwill, which accompanied a Royal Navy squadron in the Mediterranean in 1608 and was used to house the sick sent aboard from other ships.
The first purpose-built hospital ship in the U.S. Navy was the USS Relief, which was commissioned in 1921. During World War II, the United States Navy and Army operated hospital ships with different purposes. Naval hospital ships were fully equipped hospitals designed to receive casualties directly from the battlefield and provide logistical support to frontline medical teams. On the other hand, Army hospital ships were primarily for evacuating and transporting patients after receiving primary care.
The Navy Nurse Corps, established in 1908 by an Act of Congress, marked a significant milestone in the integration of women into the U.S. Navy. Twenty women, known as "The Sacred Twenty," were selected as the first members and assigned to the Naval Medical School Hospital in Washington, D.C. Despite the Navy not providing room or board, these determined nurses rented their own accommodations and provided their meals. This group of women, including Mary H. Du Bose, Adah M. Pendleton, and Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee, became the first to serve formally as members of the Navy.
While women had been working as nurses aboard Navy ships and in Navy hospitals for nearly 100 years prior, their roles were often unofficial or designated under different titles. In 1811, William P.C. Barton first recommended adding female nurses to naval hospital staff, and in 1861, a Navy Department circular order established the designation of Nurse, to be filled by junior enlisted men. During the American Civil War, several African American women served as paid crew aboard the hospital ship Red Rover in the Mississippi River area as nurses.
The entry of the United States into World War I brought a significant expansion to the Navy Nurse Corps. In 1917-18, the Navy deployed five base hospital units to France, Scotland, and Ireland. Navy nurses also served overseas, including near the combat frontlines. Shortly after World War I, Navy nurses were assigned to duty aboard transports bringing troops home from Europe, and some even ventured on ground patrols to aid Army soldiers.
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Frequently asked questions
The concept of a hospital ship is quite old, with records indicating that the Athenian Navy had a ship named Therapia, and the Roman Navy had a ship named Aesculapius, with their names indicating that they may have been hospital ships. The earliest British hospital ship may have been the vessel Goodwill, which accompanied a Royal Navy squadron in the Mediterranean in 1608.
The first purpose-built hospital ship in the US Navy, the USS Relief, was commissioned in 1921. The US Navy has had multiple hospital ships since, including the USS Haven (1945-1947), USS Benevolence (1945-1947), USS Tranquillity (1945-1946), and the USS Consolation (1945-1946, 1950-1955).
The UK, like the US, has had multiple hospital ships over the years. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary Bay Class ships have a 14-bed medical facility, which can be expanded in times of crisis. The Berlin-class replenishment ship Frankfurt am Main has an integrated MERZ (Marineeinsatzrettungszentrum or Maritime Rescue Center) built into its hull, with two operating rooms, medical imaging capabilities, and a hospital ward.
Many countries have had hospital ships as part of their naval forces. Some examples include the ARA Almirante Irízar icebreaker from Argentina, the Canberra-class landing helicopter dock from Australia, and the Shichang multi-role training ship from China, built in 1997.
