USNS Mercy (T-AH-19) is the lead ship of her class of hospital ships in non-commissioned service with the United States Navy. Her sister ship is USNS Comfort (T-AH-20). She is the third US Navy ship to be named for the virtue mercy. In accordance with the Geneva Conventions, Mercy and her crew do not carry any offensive weapons, though defensive weapons are available.
USNS Mercy leaving San Diego Bay, May 2008
Orthopedic surgery performed in one of the ship's operating rooms
Medical staff from Operation Smile and the Military Treatment Facility (MTF) aboard Mercy, perform a cleft lip surgery during the ship's visit to provide humanitarian and civic assistance to the people of Bangladesh
Mercy being refuelled at sea by USNS Tippecanoe, April 2005 during the ship's mission to aid people following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami
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