USNS Comfort TAH-20

• Commissioned as a Hospital Ship: USNS Comfort (T-AH-20) is a Mercy-class hospital ship of the United States Navy, commissioned in 1987 to provide rapid, mobile acute medical and surgical services to U.S. military forces. • Converted Oil Tanker: The vessel was originally built in 1976 as the oil tanker SS Rose City before being converted into a hospital ship at National Steel and Shipbuilding Company in San Diego, California. • Massive Medical Capacity: The ship features 12 fully equipped operating rooms, an intensive care unit, radiological services, dental facilities, and can support up to 1,000 patient beds. • Distinctive White Paint: USNS Comfort is painted bright white with large red crosses to signify its non-combatant, medical status under the Geneva Convention. • Operation Desert Storm: Comfort provided medical support during the 1991 Gulf War, treating wounded coalition and Iraqi soldiers as well as prisoners of war. • Humanitarian Missions: The ship has deployed on numerous humanitarian assistance missions, including Operation Unified Response to Haiti in 2010 after the devastating earthquake. • Support during 9/11: Comfort was deployed to New York City in September 2001, serving as a floating hospital and providing rest and recovery facilities for rescue workers after the World Trade Center attacks. • COVID-19 Response: In March 2020, Comfort sailed to New York City to assist local hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing care for non-COVID patients to free up land-based resources. • Large Civilian Crew: The ship is operated by a civilian crew from the Military Sealift Command, while its medical staff is made up of U.S. Navy medical personnel. • Symbol of Hope: USNS Comfort is widely recognized as a symbol of hope and relief, both domestically and internationally, delivering medical care in crisis zones and to underserved populations.