Search the Site with
|
Search the Site with
|
General Characteristics Crew List Notes of interest History Image Gallery to end of page
USNS MERCY is one of the two Hospital Ships of the Navy. Both ships are maintained by the Military Sealift Command and are part of the Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force (NFAF).
| General Characteristics: | Keel Laid: 1976 (the oil tanker) |
| Launched: July 20, 1985 (the hospital ship) | |
| Commissioned: November 8, 1986 | |
| Builder: National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, Calif. | |
| Propulsion system: two GE turbines | |
| Propellers: one | |
| Length: 894 feet (272.6 meters) | |
| Beam: 106 feet (32.3 meters) | |
| Draft: 33 feet (10 meters) | |
| Displacement: approx. 69,350 tons full load | |
| Speed: 17.5 knots | |
| Aircraft: helicopter platform suitable for all helicopters | |
| Armament: none | |
| Homeport: San Diego, CA | |
| Crew: Active: 63 MSC, 956 Naval medical staff and 258 Naval support staff | |
| Inactive: 16 MSC and 40 Naval medical staff |
back to top go to the end of the pageback to top go to the end of the pageCrew List:
This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USNS MERCY. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.
back to top go to the end of the page
Notes of Interest:
USNS MERCY possesses a surgery with 12 operating theaters, an intensive-care unit with 80 beds and 1000 further beds.
back to top go to the end of the page
History of USNS MERCY:
USNS MERCY was built as an oil tanker, SS WORTH, by National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, in 1976. Starting in July 1984, she was renamed and converted to a hospital ship by the same company. Launched on 20 July 1985, USNS MERCY was commissioned 8 November 1986.
On 27 February 1987, MERCY began a training and humanitarian cruise to the Phillippines and the South Pacific. The staff included U.S. Navy, Army, and Air Force active duty and reserve personnel; U.S. Public Health service; medical providers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines; and MSC civilian mariners. Over 62,000 outpatients and almost 1,000 inpatients were treated at seven Philippine and seven South Pacific ports. MERCY returned to Oakland, CA, on 13 July 1987.
On 9 August 1990, MERCY was activated in support of Operation Desert Shield. Departing on 15 August, she arrived in the Arabian Gulf on 15 September. For the next six months, MERCY provided support to the multinational allied forces. She admitted 690 patients and performed almost 300 surgeries. After treating the 21 American and two Italian repatriated prisoners of war, she departed for home on 16 March 1991, arriving in Oakland on 23 April.
Since then, MERCY has annually participated in Exercise Kernel Blitz which is a simulated amphibious assault at Camp Pendleton.
USNS MERCY, homeported in San Diego, CA, is currently in reduced operating status with a five day activation.
back to top go to the end of the page
back to top go to the end of the pageUSNS MERCY Image Gallery:
 |  |  | |
 | |||
back to top
Back to Hospital Ships Page. Back to Ships List. Back to selection Page. Back to 1st Page.