About this Unit
The TAH-20 USNS COMFORT is a Mercy-class hospital ship operated by the United States Navy's Military Sealift Command. Commissioned in 1987, the COMFORT has provided critical medical support in both military operations and humanitarian missions worldwide. The ship has played a vital role in conflicts such as Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, delivering emergency care to wounded service members. Additionally, USNS COMFORT has been deployed for disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, including missions in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake and responses to hurricanes in the Caribbean.
Historical Facts
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Origins and Commissioning: The USNS Comfort (T-AH-20) was originally built as an oil tanker named SS Rose City in 1976 before being converted into a hospital ship and commissioned in 1987.
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Massive Medical Capacity: The ship boasts a 1,000-bed hospital facility, including 12 fully equipped operating rooms, radiological services, a pharmacy, optometry lab, and dental services.
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Humanitarian Missions: USNS Comfort has conducted numerous humanitarian missions across the globe, participating in Operation Continuing Promise, providing medical care to underserved populations in Central and South America and the Caribbean.
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9/11 Response: After the September 11, 2001 attacks, the Comfort was deployed to New York Harbor within 24 hours, providing medical and psychological support to first responders.
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COVID-19 Pandemic: In March 2020, USNS Comfort was deployed to New York City to support local hospitals during the COVID-19 surge, treating non-COVID patients to free up hospital beds.
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Disaster Relief: Comfort has responded to natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Haiti earthquake in 2010, delivering critical medical aid and surgical care.
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Symbol of Goodwill: The ship is often referred to as a "floating symbol of hope," and its missions are credited with improving diplomatic relations with countries it visits.
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Diverse Crew: The ship operates with a combined crew of Navy medical personnel and civilian mariners from the Military Sealift Command, showcasing a unique collaboration.
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Training Platform: When not on active missions, the Comfort is used for medical training and readiness exercises, enhancing the U.S. Navy’s ability to respond quickly to crises.
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Namesake and Sister Ship: USNS Comfort is one of only two Mercy-class hospital ships in the U.S. Navy; her sister ship is USNS Mercy (T-AH-19), based on the West Coast.
