Hospital ship

USNS Comfort takes on supplies at Mayport, FL enroute to Gulf Coast.

A hospital ship is a ship designated for primary function as a medical treatment facility or hospital; most are operated by the military forces or navies of various countries around the world.

An early example of a hospital ship was Red Rover in the 1860s, which aided the wounded soldiers of both sides during the American Civil War.

During World War I and World War II, some passenger liners were converted for use as a hospital ship. RMS Aquitania and HMHS Britannic were two such ships to serve in this capacity.

USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort are hospital ships now operated by the United States Navy, and are the largest naval ambulances extant. Both ships are converted oil tankers.

Modern hospital ships display large Red Crosses or Red Crescents to enjoy Geneva convention protection under the laws of war. However, such markings did not stop the sinking of the Australian Hospital Ship Centaur on 14 May 1943 off the coast of Queensland, by a Japanese submarine.

The British Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship RFA Argus would be a hospital ship were it not for its armaments. When performing its medical role it is designated a "primary casualty receiving ship."

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