USNS Comfort facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
USNS Comfort (T-AH-20)

USNS Comfort in Trinidad and Tobago waters in September 2019
History
United States
Name	1975–1987: Rose City 1987–present: Comfort
Builder	National Steel and Shipbuilding
Laid down	1 May 1975 (as Rose City MA-301)
Launched	1 February 1976
In service	1 December 1987 (with the U.S. Navy)
Homeport	Naval Station Norfolk
Identification	Callsign: NCOM IMO number: 7390478 MMSI number: 368817000
Motto	Curare Aegra Permarinum (Care of the Sick on the Sea)
Status	Active
Badge
General characteristics
Class and type	Mercy-class hospital ship
Displacement	69,360 tons (70,470 t)
Length	894 ft (272 m)
Beam	105 ft 7 in (32.18 m)
Draft	33 ft (10 m)
Propulsion	Two boilers, two GE turbines, one shaft, 24,500 hp (18.3 MW)
Speed	17.5 knots (20.1 mph; 32.4 km/h)
Capacity	1,000 patient beds
Complement	63 civilian, 956 naval hospital staff, 258 naval support staff
Time to activate	5 days
Aviation facilities	A flight deck that can handle military helicopters (CH-53D, CH-53E, MH-53E, Mi-17, UH 60)

The USNS Comfort (T-AH-20) is a special kind of ship in the United States Navy. It's a hospital ship, like a floating hospital!

The Comfort helps people in emergencies, especially during wars or other big operations. It's run by the Military Sealift Command and has many doctors and nurses. This ship can quickly provide medical and surgical care. It helps soldiers, sailors, and air force members who are deployed far from home.

The Comfort also helps during disasters or for humanitarian aid missions. It's like a super advanced field hospital but not quite as big as a regular hospital on land.

In 2020, the Comfort went to New York City to help with the coronavirus pandemic. It treated patients who didn't have coronavirus at first, then later helped those who did. The ship also helped New York after the attacks of 9/11 in 2001.

Who Works on the Comfort?

The "USNS" part of the name means Comfort is owned by the U.S. Navy. But it's mostly run by civilian sailors from the Military Sealift Command (MSC).

When the Comfort goes on a mission, many Navy medical staff come aboard. These include doctors, dentists, nurses, and other support staff. They are all part of the Navy's medical teams.

The Comfort and its crew do not carry offensive weapons. This is because of international rules called the Geneva Conventions. These rules say that hospital ships are neutral and should not be attacked. Attacking a hospital ship is a war crime. The ship only carries weapons for self-defense.

How the Comfort Was Built

The Comfort started as an oil tanker in 1976. Its first name was SS Rose City. It was built in San Diego, California.

It's the third U.S. Navy ship to be named Comfort. It's also the second ship of its kind, called a Mercy-class hospital ship. The ship became part of the U.S. Navy in 1987.

For many years, the Comfort was based in Baltimore, Maryland. In 2013, it moved its homeport to Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia. This move helped the ship get supplies and medical staff more easily.

Important Missions of the Comfort

The Comfort has been on many important missions around the world. It helps people in need, whether they are soldiers or civilians.

Helping During the Persian Gulf War (1990–91)

The Comfort was called to action for the Gulf War in 1990. It sailed to the coast of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

During this time, the ship treated over 8,000 patients. It performed 337 surgeries. The Comfort helped many people who were injured during the conflict.

Assisting Haitian Migrants (1994)

In 1994, the Comfort helped Haitian migrants. It was the first ship ever to be used as a processing center for migrants.

The ship sailed to the Caribbean and took many migrants aboard. It provided care and helped them get to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba.

Support in Haiti (1994)

Later in 1994, the Comfort went back to Haiti. This time, it helped with a mission called Operation Uphold Democracy.

The ship provided medical and surgical support to U.S. forces and Haitian citizens. It also helped rebuild the local healthcare system.

After the 9/11 Attacks (2001)

After the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, 2001, the Comfort was activated.

It sailed to Manhattan and became a 250-bed hospital at Pier 92. The ship helped relief workers with injuries and offered mental health support.

During the Iraq War (2002–03)

In 2003, the Comfort sailed to the Persian Gulf for the Iraq War. It served as a trauma center.

The ship provided medical care to wounded U.S. military personnel. It also treated injured Iraqi civilians and prisoners of war. The Comfort performed 590 surgeries and treated nearly 700 patients.

Hurricane Katrina Relief (2005)

USNS Comfort in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused huge damage in the Gulf Coast. The Comfort quickly deployed to help.

It went to Pascagoula, Mississippi and New Orleans. The ship's team treated 1,956 patients during this mission.

Partnership for the Americas (2007)

In 2007, the Comfort went on a humanitarian mission called Partnership for the Americas. It visited 12 countries in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.

The medical crew gave free healthcare services to communities in need. They treated over 98,000 patients and performed 1,100 surgeries. This mission also helped train U.S. military personnel.

Haiti Earthquake Response (2010)

USNS Comfort in Trinidad and Tobago waters

After a big earthquake hit Haiti in 2010, the Comfort was sent to help. It arrived and started medical treatment very quickly.

The ship used all its 12 operating rooms and 1,000 beds. It provided the most advanced medical care available in Haiti after the earthquake. The staff treated 1,000 Haitian patients and performed 850 surgeries.

Operation Continuing Promise (2011)

In 2011, the Comfort deployed for five months on Operation Continuing Promise. It provided medical and surgical services to nine places in the Caribbean and Latin America.

The crew set up temporary medical clinics on land. They offered primary care, dental services, eye care, and more. On the ship, they performed general surgeries and other specialized operations.

Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico (2017)

In 2017, Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico. The Comfort sailed there to help. It arrived on October 3, 2017.

The ship's team evaluated thousands of patients and performed many surgeries. It also helped other hospitals by providing oxygen and sterilizing surgery kits. The Comfort even had two babies born on board!

Helping Venezuelan Refugees (2018)

Hospital beds inside Comfort while in Peru in 2018

In 2018, the Comfort went on an eleven-week mission to Latin America. Its main goal was to help countries receiving refugees from Venezuela.

The ship helped health systems in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Honduras. It provided care for nearly 27,000 patients and performed 599 surgeries.

New York COVID-19 Response (2020)

The Comfort deployed to New York Harbor in March 2020. This was to help with the COVID-19 pandemic.

At first, it treated patients who did not have the virus. This freed up land hospitals to focus on coronavirus patients. Later, the ship also treated COVID-19 patients. The Comfort treated 179 patients before leaving New York in April 2020.

Awards and Honors

The USNS Comfort has received many awards for its important work. These awards recognize the ship and its crew for their service and humanitarian efforts.

What the Comfort Can Do

USNS Comfort's engine room

The Comfort is a very large and capable ship. Here are some facts about it:

• It is 894 feet (272.6 meters) long. That's almost three football fields!
• It can travel at 17.5 knots (about 20 miles per hour).
• The ship has a crew of about 63 civilians and over 1,200 Navy medical and support staff when deployed.
• It has a special deck for helicopters to land. This helps bring patients and supplies quickly.

Patient Care Facilities

The Comfort is designed to be a full hospital at sea.

• It has 1,000 patient beds.
  • 80 beds are for intensive care (for very sick patients).
  • 20 beds are for recovery after surgery.
  • 280 beds are for intermediate care.
  • 120 beds are for light care.
  • 500 beds are for limited care.
• There are 12 operating rooms for surgeries.
• The ship has many departments, just like a land hospital:
  • An intensive care unit (ICU).
  • X-ray and imaging services.
  • A main laboratory and a blood bank.
  • A pharmacy for medicines.
  • Physical therapy and burn care.
  • Dental services and an eye care lab.
• The Comfort can make its own drinking water from sea water. It can produce 300,000 gallons (about 1.1 million liters) every day!
• It also has two oxygen-producing plants. This is vital for patients who need help breathing.

See also

In Spanish: USNS Comfort (T-AH-20) para niños