A hospital ship is a ship designated for primary function as a medical treatment facility or hospital; most are operated by the military forces or navies of various countries around the world.

An early example of a hospital ship was Red Rover in the 1860s, which aided the wounded soldiers of both sides during the American Civil War.

During World War I and World War II, some passenger liners were converted for use as a hospital ship. RMS Aquitania was one such ship to serve in this capacity.

USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort are hospital ships operated by the United States Navy and the largest ambulances extant. Both ships are converted oil tankers.

Modern hospital ships display large Red Crosses or Red Crescents to enjoy Geneva convention protection under the laws of war.

Such markings did not stop the sinking of the Australian Hospital Ship Centaur on 14 May 1943 off the coast of Queensland, by a Japanese submarine.

See also

• Mercy Ships
• SS Deutschland (WWII)

External links

• Australian War Memorial - Sinking of the Centaur

Ship types | Hospital ships

Hospitalschiff | Barco hospital | Kapal hospital | 病院船 | Sairaalalaiva