COMFORT USNS hospital ship

[aukepalmhof]

In 2006 a miniature sheet was issued, under the guise of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, showing the hospital ship USNS COMFORT.

USNS Comfort (T-AH-20) is the third United States Navy ship to bear the name Comfort, and the second Mercy Class Hospital Ship to join the navy fleet. In accordance with the Geneva Conventions, USNS Comfort and her crew do not carry any ordnance and firing on the Comfort is considered a war crime.

Like her sister ship USNS Mercy (T-AH-19), Comfort was built as an oil tanker in 1976 by the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company. Her original name was Rose City and she was launched from San Diego, California.

Her career as an oil tanker ended when she was delivered to the Navy on December 1, 1987. Now, as a hospital ship, Comfort's new duties include providing emergency, on-site care for U.S. combatant forces deployed in war or other operations. Operated by the Military Sealift Command, Comfort provides rapid, flexible, and mobile medical and surgical services to support Marine Corps Air/Ground Task Forces deployed ashore, Army and Air Force units deployed ashore, and naval amphibious task forces and battle forces afloat. Secondarily, she provides mobile surgical hospital service for use by appropriate US Government agencies in disaster or humanitarian relief or limited humanitarian care incident to these missions or peacetime military operations.

Built in 1976 as the tanker ROSE CITY by General Dynamics National Steel & Shipbuilding Company, San Diego, California for Apex Marine, New York.
01 May 1975 laid down.
12 February 1976 launched as the ROSE CITY.
Tonnage 44,875 grt, 93,323 dwt., dim. 272.5 x 32.2m., length bpp 260.6m.

Conversion to hospital ship started 2-4-85. In service 1-12-87.

24,752 tons light (69,360 fl) S: 17.5 kts (16.5 sust.)
Dim: 272.49 (260.61 pp) × 32.23 × 9.98
Electronics:
Radar: 1 . . . nav.; 1 Norden SPS-67 surf. search
TACAN: URN-25
M: 2 sets G.E. geared steam turbines; 1 prop; 24,500 shp Boilers: 2 . . .
Electric: 9,250 kw tot. (3 × 2,000-kw diesel, 1 × 1,500-kw diesel, 1 × 1,000-kw turboalternator, 1 × 750-kw emergency diesel set)
Range: 13,420/17.5 Fuel: 5,445 tons

Crew:
Active: 68 MSC Civil Service mariners, 1,508 Navy staff + 1,000 patients.
Inactive: 12 MSC caretaker crew + Navy Medical Treatment Facility staff: 6 officers, 39 enlisted

Remarks: 54,367 grt/45,480 dwt. Builder contracted 29-6-83 to convert Apex Marine's San Clemente-class commercial tanker Worth to a hospital ship with FY 83 funds; T-AH 20's conversion ordered from same yard 16-12-83 with FY 84 funds. Were originally 44,875 grt/91,849 dwt. T-AH 19 USNS MERCY is maintained in lay by berth at San Diego, California, and T-AH 20 USNS COMFORT at Baltimore, Maryland. Both are normally maintained on five-day steaming notice.

Hull systems: The entire amidships area was altered to provide a large helicopter deck, accommodations, and boat stowage. Have 12 operating rooms, 4 X-ray rooms, an 80-bed intensive-care unit, a burn-care facility, a 50-bed reception/triage area, and 1,000 ward beds. Of the 1,508 accommodations for naval personnel, there are 259 for officers, 31 for chief petty officers, and 530 for enlisted, augmented in emergencies by 372 naval medical support personnel; also aboard would be 14 communications specialists. Freshwater tankage for 1,525 tons is carried, plus two 278-ton/day distilling plants. Much of the displacement is sea-water ballast, some of which can be discharged to allow the ships to enter shallow ports and harbours. There are two 7,000 ton/hour ballast pumps.

Details of the USNS COMFORT's missions can be found at her official website:
http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/usnscomfo ... fault.aspx


Sources: Combat Fleets of the World 2005 – 2006. Wikipedia.

written by Mr. Peter Crichton

[jennytainer]

We had an experience with this kind of hospital ship, a neighbor of us was given a free eye operation. I am not sure if it is the same ship. This is a big help in emergency cases for medical needs. The hospital ship has a very important role from the sea and into giving medical needs to those who needed it. Indiana Heart Physicians