209:
28:
264:
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50:
775:, Okinawa, and Guam, and then steamed for home, arriving San Francisco 30 November. By this time the war service of the hospital ship had included steaming the equivalent of nearly four times around the world and the evacuation of nearly 10,000 fighting men as patients from scenes of combat in nearly every military campaign area of the Pacific Theater. Her last transpacific voyage commenced 15 December 1945 when she stood out of
864:
726:
guided tours. The only word of the prisoners was that they were en route by rail from Mukden, some 200 miles (300 km) north of Dairen. The morning of 11 September, a navy doctor and a marine sergeant reported on board from the camp, and they brought word of the approximate number and condition of
653:
anchored off the
Okinawa invasion beach by day and stood out to sea each night, illuminated "like a Christmas tree." As massive suicide aerial raids became common at night, the retirement plan was abandoned 9 April and the hospital ships remained in the anchorage area, taking advantage of the cover
517:
also served as general medical consultation center for the fleet. From her came recommendations for appropriate action for coping with the problems of sanitation. She also served as medical supply depot for the combatant forces. When the fleet departed the
Marshalls 4 June for amphibious operations
661:
steamed for Saipan with 556 battle casualties. She then made a quick run to the fleet base at Ulithi for stores and diesel oil, thence steamed back to
Okinawa, arriving 22 April. After delivering a complete field hospital unit, she departed 26 April with 613 casualties, arriving Tinian Harbor the
725:
gained no sight of either the tugs or the pilots which the
Russians had promised. Entering the unfamiliar harbor, she moored unassisted to Pier No. 2. Dairen was under Russian military control, and shore leave was not permitted, although the Russians magnanimously invited the officers ashore on
563:
for the use of
Service Squadron 10. Meanwhile, her pathologist and laboratory technicians worked to control an epidemic of bacillary dysentery that had broken out in the harbor. On the morning of 18 September, she steamed for the
404:. The bitter struggle to drive the Japanese from the Solomon Islands was still in progress when she reached her destination 2 April. Marine, navy, and army patients brought out of the combat zones of the Solomons awaited in the
474:
Atoll lagoon 4 March. During the following 3 months, she was the only hospital ship at Majuro where she served some 200,000 officers and men of the 5th Fleet. With medical facilities ashore limited to dispensary service,
541:
on the 29th. Off Saipan again 15 July, she received 658 patients and again debarked them 5 days later at
Kwajalein. The next morning she was steaming for the Marianas to receive 400 casualties from the battle for
783:, Japan, arriving 4 January 1946. She embarked navy passengers there before proceeding to Saipan and Guam. When she stood out from Apra Harbor 15 January, she carried 282 patients and 717 returning veterans.
761:, China, arriving on the 30th to provide medical facilities for the troops of the 1st Marine Division assigned to occupation duty in North China. This service continued until 24 October, when
580:
was ordered to evacuate patients directly to the United States. Taking on 489 patients, she departed Nouméa 15 October, touching at Pearl Harbor before arriving San
Francisco 3 November.
550:
entered Pearl Harbor 15 August. Taking on a maximum load of medical supplies and stores, including one complete field hospital unit, she put to sea 25 August for return to the
Marshalls.
459:
Lagoon, she received battle casualties transported by small boat directly from the islands under attack. By the afternoon of 4 February she was bound for Hawaii with 607 patients.
27:
576:
to receive 759 casualties. Some were discharged prior to sailing, but 680 patients were evacuated to army and navy hospitals in New
Caledonia. Arriving New Caledonia 11 October,
343:, 26 September 1925 and continued to serve the Pacific Fleet as the National Emergency preparations swelled the ranks of sailors and marines. This duty ended 3 June 1941 when
642:
on 2 April. One bomb fell several yards wide of the ship, but the only damage was temporary loss of suction in a lube oil pump. A barrage of antiaircraft fire from destroyer
786:
She arrived San
Francisco 2 February, debarked her passengers, and got underway for the east coast on the 19th, arriving Norfolk, on the 28th. She decommissioned at the
282:
coast. During this service Captain Holcomb was relieved of command 5 September 1921 by Captain Thomas L. Johnson, a line officer. Following a proclamation made by
604:, the Carolines, arriving 5 March. On the night of 11 March, two Japanese suicide planes penetrated the harbor, one crashing the after flight deck of carrier
708:
382:, 28 April and provided for the health needs of men training to man the navy's new fighting ships. She also cared for victims of the war in the Atlantic.
208:
799:
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537:
3 days later to receive casualties directly from the combat then in progress. She departed that night with 656 patients and debarked them safely at
730:
prospective passengers. Soon 753 of them arrived - Dutch, British, Australians, and Americans. Many had lived through the infamous death march at
662:
30th. In four similar missions of mercy, she evacuated nearly 2,000 wounded fighting men from Okinawa to hospital facilities at Guam and Saipan.
479:
provided hospitalization for fleet casualties. During this period, units of the fleet made constant air and surface attacks on the Japanese at
232:; launched 23 December 1919; and commissioned 28 December 1920 at Philadelphia, Commander Richmond C. Holcomb, Medical Corps, USN, in command.
718:
287:
874:
623:
as well as those from task forces returning from operations against the Japanese home islands. She departed Ulithi 26 March and entered
286:
in 1908, it had been customary for hospital ships to be commanded by medical officers. But now, as a result of a review decision of the
546:. Nearly all were very serious cases, so field facilities in the Marshalls were bypassed for the better treatment available in Hawaii.
526:
evacuated her patients by air or surface transport to shore facilities and prepared to evacuate battle casualties of that campaign.
780:
293:
As a result of this decision, Navy Regulations were changed, and the controversy ended. (Change No. 2 to 1920 Navy Regulations.)
750:
was ordered to stand out to sea to evade a typhoon. Returning to Buckner Bay 18 September, she debarked her passengers by noon.
934:
589:
416:
occupied until 15 November, when she departed Auckland to evacuate battle casualties of the amphibious assaults on the
299:
continued to serve the Atlantic Fleet until the conclusion of the winter-spring maneuvers of 1923, which took her to
243:
26 February 1921 to provide fleet units on Caribbean maneuvers with all the facilities of a modern shore hospital.
239:
was one of the world's most modern and best equipped hospital ships. Assigned to the Atlantic Fleet, she departed
466:
returned to the newly-won Marshalls, bringing medical supplies to be used in establishing shore hospitals on
692:. Her mission was the recovery of Allied prisoners of war from the former Japanese military prison camp at
895:
791:
669:
319:
as hospital ship for the Pacific Fleet and participated in fleet battle problems conducted northward to
363:
680:. She served as a Fleet Base Hospital in the Philippines for the remainder of the war. She departed
556:
arrived at Eniwetok 3 September and transferred 175 tons of medical stores to medical stores barge
367:
263:
374:, Newfoundland, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. The following day she got underway via
787:
371:
229:
340:
308:
251:
605:
274:
returned north to Philadelphia 28 April 1921 to serve the fleet in waters ranging from the
8:
939:
850:
643:
593:
443:, to serve as a base hospital there until 4 January 1944. She then performed service off
914:
829:
283:
921:"prepared on board during her transit home after the war for distribution to her crew"
879:
776:
348:
304:
290:
6 June 1921, the old tradition of line officer command of ships was re-established.
224:, the first ship of the United States Navy designed and built from the keel up as a
448:
389:
379:
312:
596:
commenced 6 November 1944 and extended through 10 February 1945. Three days later
842:
820:
519:
417:
327:. Her usual employment schedule was interrupted 1 July 1925 when she sailed from
790:
11 June 1946. Struck from the Navy List 19 July 1946, she was delivered to the
673:
632:
452:
440:
436:
332:
275:
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were repulsed. These operations, as well as attacks made by the fleet against
928:
870:
612:
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admitted 1,329 patients and discharged 693 from 4 March through 4 June 1944.
401:
225:
631:
the following day, transferring 184 patients ashore in preparation for the
500:
444:
405:
393:
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thereafter served as a base hospital for the Atlantic Fleet in waters from
328:
240:
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to join the Battle Fleet as it made its good will practice cruise via the
834:
808:
743:
701:
677:
624:
470:. After embarking battle casualties from navy transports, she shifted to
336:
279:
758:
697:
557:
484:
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17:
765:
was ordered to carry patients to the west coast of the United States.
689:
681:
538:
456:
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to prepare for duty in the Pacific. By the 23d she was bound via the
919:(AH 1)--A Chronicle of Her Wartime Overseas Movements and Activities
746:, Okinawa, 3 days later. Before they could be transferred to shore,
739:
447:
in the Gilberts for the remainder of the month. She steamed for the
397:
496:
488:
409:
772:
569:
432:
742:, and Manchuria. Outbound to freedom 12 September, they entered
735:
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480:
471:
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324:
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495:, and other outlying Marshall Island atolls. Enemy attacks on
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31 January to care for battle casualties. On the east side of
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swept out ahead to destroy any mines that might be sighted.
628:
300:
734:, and most had survived prison camps in the Philippines,
435:
in the Gilberts 24 November, but immediately retired to
696:, Manchuria. As she passed through the East China and
654:
of smoke screens and turning off their illumination.
668:
departed Saipan 7 July and touched at Guam en route
388:
departed Casco Bay 8 February 1943 and put into the
926:
507:, produced a large number of battle casualties.
408:for transport to better hospital facilities at
600:stood out from San Francisco Bay en route to
396:to the South Pacific Advanced Fleet Base at
875:Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
311:, she arrived 12 April. There she relieved
378:for Norfolk. Returning north, she arrived
133:Five battle stars for World War II service
412:, New Zealand. This evacuation duty kept
945:Hospital ships of the United States Navy
896:"Modern Hospital Sails With U.S. Fleet."
869:This article incorporates text from the
798:was sold for scrap 23 March 1948 to the
262:
250:
207:
16:For other ships with the same name, see
927:
162:483 ft 10 in (147.47 m)
915:The United States Navy Hospital Ship
590:General Engineering & Drydock Co.
235:With a bed capacity of 550 patients,
46:
684:28 August, steaming via Okinawa for
228:, was laid down 14 June 1917 by the
13:
178:19 ft 6 in (5.94 m)
14:
956:
908:
529:Departing the Marshalls 21 June,
255:Nurses and their patients aboard
862:
246:
48:
26:
358:Arriving Norfolk 20 June 1941,
353:
889:
794:for disposal 13 January 1947.
303:and Panama Bay. Departing the
1:
878:. The entry can be found
657:On the afternoon of 10 April
619:received the casualties from
347:departed San Diego en route
141:Sold for scrap 23 March 1948
7:
935:Ships built in Philadelphia
814:
792:War Shipping Administration
10:
961:
856:
811:for World War II service.
638:Japanese bombers attacked
611:and the other crashing on
364:Charleston, South Carolina
15:
649:drove off the attackers.
145:
74:Aid given in time of need
41:
25:
899:Popular Science Monthly
583:
423:
146:General characteristics
788:Norfolk Naval Shipyard
288:Judge Advocate General
268:
260:
230:Philadelphia Navy Yard
213:
170:61 ft (19 m)
83:Philadelphia Navy Yard
901:, August 1927, p. 35.
807:(AH-1) received five
771:embarked patients at
370:. She was in port at
341:San Pedro, California
309:San Diego, California
266:
254:
211:
851:Japanese war crimes
202:Bed capacity of 550
830:USS Comfort (AH-6)
721:8 September 1945,
339:. She returned to
307:31 March 1923 for
284:Theodore Roosevelt
269:
261:
214:
800:Boston Metals Co.
777:San Francisco Bay
753:On 26 September,
717:Appearing before
349:Norfolk, Virginia
335:to Australia and
305:Panama Canal Zone
212:Ship mascot “Doc”
206:
205:
64:USS Relief (AH-1)
952:
902:
893:
866:
865:
462:By 21 February,
390:Boston Navy Yard
380:Casco Bay, Maine
323:and westward to
107:28 December 1920
99:23 December 1919
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566:Palau Islands
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544:Tinian Island
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55:United States
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845:Op ten Noort
844:
836:
825: (AH-7)
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809:battle stars
804:
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757:steamed for
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588:Overhaul at
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431:arrived off
428:
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413:
406:New Hebrides
394:Panama Canal
385:
384:
368:Newfoundland
359:
357:
354:World War II
344:
329:Pearl Harbor
317: (AH-4)
314:
296:
295:
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271:
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256:
241:Philadelphia
236:
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219:
217:
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151:Displacement
123:19 July 1946
115:11 June 1946
104:Commissioned
91:14 June 1917
73:
33:
744:Buckner Bay
698:Yellow Seas
678:Philippines
625:Apra Harbor
372:NS Argentia
337:New Zealand
280:New England
154:10,112 Tons
128:Honours and
940:1919 ships
929:Categories
719:Dairen Kou
635:campaign.
468:Roi Island
257:USS Relief
216:The sixth
191:Complement
18:USS Relief
821:USS
709:USS
702:USS
690:Manchuria
682:Subic Bay
644:USS
606:USS
558:USS
539:Kwajalein
457:Kwajalein
449:Marshalls
313:USS
88:Laid down
815:See also
781:Yokosuka
773:Tsingtao
728:Relief's
621:Randolph
608:Randolph
520:Marianas
497:Eniwetok
489:Maloelap
410:Auckland
186:16 knots
120:Stricken
96:Launched
72:Relief:
69:Namesake
857:Sources
837:Centaur
736:Formosa
704:McNulty
633:Okinawa
594:Alameda
570:Peleliu
518:in the
433:Abemama
278:to the
267:Surgery
259:in 1921
80:Builder
42:History
36:in 1945
917:Relief
867:
805:Relief
796:Relief
769:Relief
763:Relief
755:Relief
748:Relief
740:Honshū
732:Bataan
723:Relief
711:Elmore
694:Mukden
686:Dairen
676:, the
666:Relief
659:Relief
651:Relief
646:Wickes
640:Relief
617:Relief
602:Ulithi
598:Relief
578:Relief
574:Angaur
560:Silica
554:Relief
548:Relief
535:Saipan
531:Relief
524:Relief
515:Relief
509:Relief
481:Jaluit
477:Relief
472:Majuro
464:Relief
445:Tarawa
429:Relief
414:Relief
398:Nouméa
386:Relief
376:Boston
360:Relief
345:Relief
325:Hawaii
321:Alaska
297:Relief
272:Relief
237:Relief
222:(AH-1)
220:Relief
159:Length
130:awards
34:Relief
674:Leyte
505:Palau
493:Wotje
366:, to
315:Mercy
199:Notes
183:Speed
175:Draft
880:here
835:AHS
823:Hope
779:for
759:Taku
707:and
629:Guam
584:1945
572:and
503:and
501:Truk
485:Mili
424:1944
301:Cuba
218:USS
167:Beam
138:Fate
61:Name
32:USS
843:SS
455:in
194:375
931::
738:,
700:,
688:,
672:,
627:,
615:.
592:,
522:,
491:,
487:,
483:,
439:,
420:.
400:,
882:.
20:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
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