Haven-class hospital ship
The Haven class of hospital ships were built for the United States Navy (USN) during World War II. Haven-class ships also served in the Korean War and the Vietnam War. They were among the first ships to be able to receive casualties directly by helicopter and were the first fully air conditioned ships in the USN. The first ship was laid down in July 1943, while the last was launched in August 1944. In that span the United States produced six Haven-class hospital ships. The last Haven-class ship was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1989. One ship sank in a collision in 1950; the five others were scrapped. Haven-class hospital ships were replaced with the Mercy-class hospital ships.
USS Haven, the lead ship of her class, seen here in 1954.
Benevolence moored in Bikini Atoll lagoon, during Operation Crossroads, in mid-July 1946.
A 52-bed ward aboard Repose
Consolation off Korea in 1952
Mercy-class hospital ship
The Mercy class of hospital ships are converted San Clemente-class supertankers used by the United States Navy. Originally built in the 1970s by the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, they were acquired by the Navy and converted into hospital ships, coming into service in 1986 and 1987.
USNS Mercy in 2012