Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1940-1945
AH -- Hospital Ships
Click on "AH-##" for link to page with specifications, history, photographs (where available).
Non-combatant vessels protected by the Hague and Geneva Conventions, they evacuate sick and wounded Army and Navy personnel from combat areas. Painted white and brightly lighted at night, they travel alone, identify themselves to all (until kamikaze attacks at Okinawa forced security measures). This list does not include numerous similar Hospital Ships operated by the Army.
Additional Resources
Relief Class:
- Displacement:10,915 tons (full load)
- Length: 484'
- Beam: 61'
- Draft:22'
- Speed: 14 knots (max); 9 knots (econ)
- Armament: NONE
- Complement: 44 officers, 331 enlisted corpsmen; 600 patients
- Geared turbine engines; twin screws; 5,300 hp
| No. |
Name |
Comm./Conv. |
Notes ( : Lost) |
| AH-1 |
Relief |
1920 |
|
Solace Class:
- Displacement: 8,660 (full load)
- Length: 409'
- Beam: 63'
- Draft:21'
- Speed: 17.5 knots (max); 13 knots (econ)
- Armament: NONE
- Complement: ; 418 patients
- Geared turbine engines; twin screws; 8,500 hp
| No. |
Name |
Comm./Conv. |
Notes (: Lost) |
| AH-5 |
Solace |
1927/1941 |
Converted from SS Iroquois |
Bountiful Class:
- Displacement: 12,450 tons (full load)
- Length: 484'
- Beam: 61'
- Draft:20'
- Speed: 13.5 knots (max);
- Armament: NONE
- Complement: ; 477 patients
- Reciprocating engines; single screw; 4,400 hp
| No. |
Name |
Comm./Conv. |
Notes (: Lost) |
| AH-9 |
Bountiful |
1917/1944 |
Converted from Transport (Henderson (AP-1) |
Samaritan Class:
- Displacement: 10,000 tons (full load)
- Length: 449'
- Beam: 58'
- Draft: 24'
- Speed: 13 knots (max)
- Armament: NONE
- Complement: ; 394 patients
- Geared turbine engines; single screw; 6,000 hp
| No. |
Name |
Comm./Conv. |
Notes (: Lost) |
| AH-10 |
Samaritan |
1920/1944 |
Converted from Transport Chaumont (AP-5) |
Refuge Class:
- Displacement: 13,900 (full load)
- Length: 523'
- Beam: 62'
- Draft:27'
- Speed: 11.5 knots (max); 10 knots (econ)
- Armament: NONE
- Complement: : 626 patients
- Reciprocating engines; twin screws; 7,000 hp
| No. |
Name |
Comm./Conv. |
Notes (: Lost) |
| AH-11 |
Refuge |
1920/1944 |
Converted from Transport Kenmore (AP-62) |
Rescue Class:
- Displacement:
- Length: 403'
- Beam: 61'
- Draft: 20'
- Speed: 20 knots (max); 7 knots (econ)
- Armament: NONE
- Complement:
- Geared turbine engines; twin screws; 13,000 hp
| No. |
Name |
Comm./Conv. |
Notes (: Lost) |
| AH-18 |
Rescue |
1945 |
Converted from Miscellaneous Auxiliary AS-67 Antaeus
(Maritime Commission C4-S-B2 type) |
Comfort Class:
- Displacement: 9,800 (full load)
- Length: 418'
- Beam: 60'
- Draft: 24'
- Speed: 15.5 knots (max); 13.5 knots (econ)
- Armament: NONE
- Complement: 516; 400+ patients
- Geared turbine engines; single screw; 4,000 hp
- Maritime Commission C1-B type
| No. |
Name |
Comm. |
Notes (: Lost) |
| AH-6 |
Comfort |
1944 |
|
| AH-7 |
Hope |
1944 |
|
| AH-8 |
Mercy |
1944 |
|
Haven Class:
- Displacement: 15,000 tons (full load)
- Length: 520'
- Beam: 71'6"
- Draft: 23'6"
- Speed: 17.5 knots (max);
- Armament: NONE
- Complement: ; 800 patients
- Geared turbine engines; single screw;
- Maritime Commission C4-S-BB2 type
| No. |
Name |
Comm./Conv. |
Notes (: Lost) |
| AH-13 |
Benevolence |
1945 |
|
| AH-15 |
Consolation |
1945 |
|
| AH-12 |
Haven |
1945 |
|
| AH-16 |
Repose |
1945 |
|
| AH-17 |
Sanctuary |
1945 |
|
| AH-14 |
Tranquility |
1945 |
|
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Last updated:
December 1, 1999