USNS Comfort (T-AH 20)

- formerly oil tanker SS ROSE CITY -
- Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force -

USNS COMFORT 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).

USNS COMFORT was a participant of Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield. Following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, COMFORT deployed to New York City and served as a floating base for rescue workers. In mid-2002, COMFORT visited the North Sea and the Baltic Sea for a series of exercises. In late 2002, the ship left the US East Coast and deployed to the Arabian Sea in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In September 2005, COMFORT deployed to the Gulf Coast after only two days of preparation to assist in the recovery effort following Hurricane Katrina. After a good-will cruise to 12 central and south American countries in 2007, COMFORT's next humanitarian mission came in January 2010, following the earthquake in Haiti. This operation was a milestone for COMFORT because it was the first time in her career that she reached her full operational capacity, using all of her 12 operating room.

In March 2013, COMFORT's homeport was changed from Baltimore, MD, (where she had been based since her delivery to the Navy in 1987) to Norfolk, VA.

General Characteristics:	Keel Laid: May 1, 1975 (the oil tanker)
	Launched: February 1, 1976 (the oil tanker)
	Commissioned: December 1, 1987 (the hospital ship)
	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: Norfolk, Va.
	Crew: Active: 63 MSC, 956 Naval medical staff and 258 Naval support staff
	Crew: Inactive: 16 MSC and 40 Naval medical staff

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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USNS COMFORT. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

Click here to view the list.

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USNS COMFORT Image Gallery:

The photo below was taken by me and shows the COMFORT at her layberth at Baltimore, Md., early in the morning on October 31, 2010.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the COMFORT at her new homeport of Norfolk, Va. The move from Baltimore to Norfolk saves the Navy approx. $2 million a year.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the COMFORT at the Marine Hydraulics Industries (MHI) Ship Repair & Services shipyard in Norfolk, Va., on April 13, 2016.

The photo below was taken by Michael Jenning and shows the COMFORT at Naval Base Norfolk, Va., on September 21, 2018.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the COMFORT at Naval Base Norfolk, Va., on December 26, 2021.

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