The Haven class of hospital ships were built for the United States Navy during World War II. They were the first ships to be fully air conditioned, and capable to receive wounded soldiers directly by helicopter.
Set in motion by a single propeller driven by General Electric turbines and powered by steam, these Korean and Vietnam War era ships saw action from 1943 to 1945.
In that timespan, the United States produced six Haven-class hospital ships. They were named Haven, Benevolence, Tranquility, Consolation, Repose, and Sanctuary.
The Haven-class hospital ships were eventually replaced with the Mercy-class hospital ships.
USS Haven (AH-12) 1943-1988
World War II, Korean War
Reaching Pearl Harbor on July 6, 1945, the ship brought patients on board for return to San Francisco.
In September 1945, she reached Okinawa and Nagasaki, and brought on board a group of allied ex-prisoners of war, some of them suffering from the effects of the atomic blast.
USS Benevolence (AH-13) 1943-1950
World War II, Sunk
In August 1945, the Benevolence crew provided hospital services to those in need. 1520 prisoners of war were screened and processed.
During the Korean War, she collided with a heavy freighter, the SS Mary Luchenbach, and sank 15 minutes off the coast of San Fransisco. Five hundred and five crew members were rescued… sadly 23 lost their lives in this tragic accident.
USS Tranquility (AH-14) 1943-1945
World War II
Beginning its service as a base hospital off the Caroline Islands, the Tranquility was eventually dispatched to receive the survivors of the USS Indianapolis after it was struck by a Japanese Submarine.
USS Consolation (AH-15) 1943-1945
World War II, Korean War
Consolation was assigned to establish a shore screening station and field hospital to screen Allied Prisoners of War after the Victory over Japan.
During the Korean War, she was the first hospital ship outfitted with a helicopter landing pad.
She later was renamed SS Hope, an acronym for Health Opportunity for People Everywhere. She sailed to Indonesia South Vietnam, Peru, Sri Lanka, and many other underdeveloped areas, bringing modern medical treatment and training.
USS Repose (AH-16) 1945-1970
World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War
Serving as a casualty transport from various ports in the Pacific Ocean, the Repose also served as a base hospital ship in Shanghai and later Qingdao, China, supporting the occupation forces in northern China for WWII.
During Vietnam, she was nicknamed “Angel of the Orient”, established as the medical care site for more than 9,000 battle casualties and 24,000 inpatients while deployed.
During the USS Forrestal Fire in 1967, she was on hand treating the victims of a horrific electrical anomaly.
USS Sanctuary (AH-17) 1945-1975
World War II, Vietnam War
After caring for wounded and sick POW’s from Pearl Harbor, the Sanctuary crew survived a typhoon and was able to deliver many, including children, to Guam and other locations.
During Vietnam, she was refitted with all the modern equipment and her mission shifted from an “ambulance” ship to that of a fully equipped hospital carrying medical facilities close to the combat area.
