View source for USNS Mercy

{{short description|Hospital ship of the United States Navy}}
{{Other ships|USS Mercy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin
| infobox caption = yes
}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = [[File:USNS Mercy.jpg|300px|USNS Mercy on 27 November 2024]]
| Ship caption = USNS Mercy on 27 November 2024
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = 
| Ship country = United States
| Ship flag = {{USN flag}}
| Ship name = 
| Ship namesake = [[Mercy]]
| Ship ordered = 
| Ship builder = [[National Steel and Shipbuilding Company]]
| Ship laid down = 12 June 1974 (as {{sclass|San Clemente|oil tanker}} SS ''Worth'' MA-299)
| Ship launched = 1 July 1975 (in San Diego, California)
| Ship acquired = 
| Ship commissioned = 
| Ship decommissioned = 
| Ship in service = 8 November 1986 (to the US Navy)
| Ship out of service = 
| Ship struck = 
| Ship reinstated = 
| Ship homeport = [[Naval Base San Diego]]
| Ship identification = *{{IMO Number|7390454}}
* {{MMSI Number|367816000}}
* [[Maritime call sign|Callsign]]: NMER
| Ship motto = "Steaming to Assist"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tioh.army.mil/Catalog/Heraldry.aspx?HeraldryId=19097&CategoryId=10910&grp=5&menu=Uniformed%20Services |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415010250/https://tioh.army.mil/Catalog/Heraldry.aspx?HeraldryId=19097&CategoryId=10910&grp=5&menu=Uniformed%20Services |archive-date=15 April 2021 |title=USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) |publisher=The Institute of Heraldry |access-date=2021-04-15}}</ref>
| Ship badge = [[File:USNS Mercy (T-AH-19) Crest.png|150px]]
| Ship honours = 
| Ship fate = 
| Ship status = {{Ship in active service}}
| Ship notes = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
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| Header caption = 
| Ship class = {{sclass|Mercy|hospital ship}}
| Ship capacity = 1000 patient beds
| Ship displacement = 65,552 tons<ref name=inv/>
| Ship length = {{cvt|894|ft}}<ref name=inv/>
| Ship beam = {{cvt|106|ft}}<ref name=inv/>
| Ship draught = 
| Ship draft = 
| Ship propulsion = two boilers, two [[General Electric|GE]] turbines, one shaft, {{cvt|24,500|hp|MW|abbr=on}}
| Ship speed = {{cvt|17|kn}}<ref name=inv/>
| Ship range = 
| Ship complement = *12 civilian and 58 military during [[Reduced Operating Status]]
* 61 civilian and 1,214 military during Full Operating Status
| Ship time to activate = 5 days
| Ship sensors = 
| Ship EW = 
| Ship armament = 
| Ship armour = 
| Ship armor = 
| Ship aircraft = 
| Ship aircraft facilities = 
| Ship notes = 
}}
|}

'''USNS ''Mercy'' (T-AH-19)''' is the [[lead ship]] of [[Mercy class hospital ship|her class]] of [[hospital ship]]s in non-commissioned service with the [[United States Navy]]. Her sister ship is {{USNS|Comfort|T-AH-20}}. She is the third US Navy ship to be named after the virtue [[mercy]]. In accordance with the [[Geneva Conventions]], ''Mercy'' and her crew do not carry any offensive weapons, though defensive weapons are available.

[[United States Naval Ship]] (USNS) ''Mercy'' was built as a {{sclass|San Clemente|oil tanker}}, '''SS ''Worth''''', by [[National Steel and Shipbuilding Company]], San Diego, California, in 1976. Starting in July 1984, she was renamed and converted to a hospital ship by the same company. [[Ceremonial ship launching|Launched]] on 20 July 1985, ''Mercy'' was placed in service on 8 November 1986. She has a raised forecastle, a transom stern, a bulbous bow, an extended deckhouse with a forward bridge, and a helicopter-landing deck with a flight-control facility.

The conversions from oil tankers cost $208 million per ship and took 35 months to complete.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/tah-19-history.htm|title=T-AH 19 Mercy Class – Program History|work=GlobalSecurity.org|access-date=21 March 2020}}</ref> The ''Mercy''-class hospital ships are the third largest ships in the US Navy Fleet by length, surpassed only by the nuclear-powered {{sclass|Nimitz|aircraft carrier|5}}- and {{sclass|Gerald R. Ford|aircraft carrier|0}} [[supercarrier]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/usnsmercy/CommandInfo/Pages/CommandFacilities.aspx |title=Patient Care |website=Command Facilities |publisher=USNS Mercy |access-date=31 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323010700/http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/usnsmercy/Commandinfo/Pages/CommandFacilities.aspx |archive-date=23 March 2010}}</ref>
[[File:US Navy 100620-N-4044H-158 Cmdr. Matthew T. Provencher performs surgery on the right tibia of a Cambodian patient aboard Mercy.jpg|thumb|[[Orthopedic surgery]] performed in one of the ship's operating rooms]]

Her primary mission is to provide medical and surgical services to support Marine Corps Air/Ground Task Forces deployed ashore, Army and Air Force units deployed ashore, and naval amphibious task forces and battle forces afloat. Secondarily, she provides mobile surgical hospital service for use by appropriate US Government agencies in disaster and humanitarian relief, and limited humanitarian care incident to these missions and to peacetime military operations.<ref name="med.navy.mil">{{cite web |url=http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/usnsmercy/CommandInfo/Pages/mission.aspx |title=Command Mission |website=USNS Mercy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813132035/http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/usnsmercy/CommandInfo/Pages/mission.aspx |archive-date=2009-08-13|access-date=31 August 2010}}</ref>
[[File:US Navy 060704-N-1577S-002 Medical staff from Operation Smile and the Military Treatment Facility (MTF) aboard the Military Sealift Command (MSC) hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19), perform a cleft lip surgery.jpg|thumb|right|Medical staff from [[Operation Smile]] and the [[Military Treatment Facility]] (MTF) aboard ''Mercy'', perform a [[cleft lip]] surgery during the ship's visit to provide humanitarian and civic assistance to the people of [[Bangladesh]]]]

''Mercy'', homeported in San Diego, is normally in reduced operating status. Her crew remains a part of the staff of [[Naval Medical Center San Diego]] until ordered to sea, at which time they have five days to fully activate the ship to a NATO Role III Medical Treatment Facility. The only higher level being onshore fixed facilities outside the theater of operations.<ref name="med.navy.mil"/><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nato.int/docu/logi-en/1997/lo-1610.htm |title=NATO Logistics Handbook: Chapter 16: Medical Support |work=nato.int |date=October 1997 |access-date=13 October 2014}}</ref> Like most USNS ships, mariners from the US Navy's [[Military Sealift Command]] are responsible for navigation, propulsion, and most deck duties on board.<ref name=inv>{{cite web |url=https://www.militaryfactory.com/ships/detail.asp?ship_id=usns-mercy-t-ah-19-hospital-ship-usn |title=USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) Hospital Ship |work=Military Factory |date=19 March 2020|access-date=25 April 2020}}</ref> ''Mercy'' is as of 2012 part of MSC's Service Support Program. The "Medical Treatment Facility", or hospital on the ship, is commanded by a captain of the [[Medical Corps (United States Navy)|Navy Medical Corps]] or [[Navy Nurse Corps]].

==Deployments==
===Philippine Training Mission (1987)===
On 27 February 1987, ''Mercy'' began training while en route on a humanitarian cruise to the Philippines and the South Pacific. The staff included [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]], [[Indian Navy]], [[United States Army|U.S. Army]], and [[United States Air Force|U.S. Air Force]] active duty and reserve personnel; [[United States Public Health Service]]; medical providers from the [[Armed Forces of the Philippines]]; and [[Military Sealift Command|MSC]] civilian mariners. Over 62,000 outpatients and almost 1,000 inpatients were treated at seven Philippine and South Pacific ports. ''Mercy'' returned to [[Oakland, California]], on 13 July 1987.

===Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm (1990–91)===
On 9 August 1990, ''Mercy'' was activated in support of [[Gulf War#Operation Desert Shield|Operation Desert Shield]]. Departing on 15 August, she arrived in the [[Persian Gulf]] on 15 September. For the next six months, ''Mercy'' provided support to multinational allied forces. She admitted 690 patients and performed almost 300 surgeries. After treating the 21 American and two Italian repatriated [[prisoner of war|prisoners of war]], she departed for home on 16 March 1991, arriving in Oakland on 23 April.

===Operation Unified Assistance (2004)===
{{see also|Operation Unified Assistance}}
[[File:USNS Mercy T-AH-19 2005.jpg|thumb|''Mercy'' being refuelled at sea by {{USNS|Tippecanoe|T-AO-199|6}}, April 2005 during the ship's mission to aid people following the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|2004 Indian Ocean tsunami]]]]
''Mercy'' departed San Diego on 5 January 2005 en route to the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|tsunami]]-devastated regions of [[Southeast Asia]], where she provided medical care to the victims of the disaster as part of [[Operation Unified Assistance]], and further care as part of Theater Security Cooperation Program 2005. Combined, she provided over 107,000 patient services, rendered by members of the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]], [[Project HOPE]], and the [[United States Public Health Service]].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Drayton|first=Amy |title=Nursing Onboard Mercy Class Naval Hospital Ships|journal=Journal of Emergency Nursing|volume=39|issue=6 |date=November 2013|pages=581–590|doi=10.1016/j.jen.2013.08.006|pmid=24209588 }}</ref>

===Pacific Partnership (2006)===
[[File:USNS Mercy off Jolo.jpg|thumb|''Mercy'' anchored off [[Jolo]], Philippines in June 2006]]
''Mercy'' departed San Diego in 2006 as the inaugural deployment of [[Pacific Partnership]], an ongoing Civic Assistance mission designed to "Prepare in Calm to Respond in Crisis". She visited several ports in the South Pacific Ocean including the [[Philippines]], Indonesia, and [[Banda Aceh]]. The ship's primary mission was to provide humanitarian assistance to these countries, and her staff included several non-governmental organizations, doctors from the armed services of several countries, as well as active-duty and reserve military providers from many branches of the [[United States Armed Forces|US Armed Forces]].

===Pacific Partnership (2008)===
[[File:USNS Mercy off Dili.jpg|thumb|''Mercy'' anchored in [[Dili]], East Timor, as part of Pacific Partnership 2008]]
''Mercy'' departed San Diego on 14 April 2008 for Pacific Partnership 2008, a four-month humanitarian and civic [[Military deployment|deployment]] in Southeast Asia and Oceania. ''Mercy'', with 900 officers and sailors, included 300 US health and construction experts. Partners participating in the mission included the nations of Australia, Canada, [[Chile]], Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and [[Portugal]], as well as several non-governmental organizations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.military.com/news/article/navy-news/usns-mercy-deploys-for-pacific.html?col=1186032311124 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606062100/http://www.military.com/news/article/navy-news/usns-mercy-deploys-for-pacific.html?col=1186032311124 |archive-date=2011-06-06 |title=USNS Mercy Deploys for Pacific |date=2 May 2008 |work=Navy News|via=Military.com}}</ref> Originally intended to visit the [[Philippines]], Vietnam, the [[Federated States of Micronesia]], [[East Timor]], and [[Papua New Guinea]], ''Mercy'' was to be redirected to the [[Bay of Bengal]] to provide immediate assistance to victims of the cyclone in [[Burma]], but relief efforts in Burma were called off. On 10 June, the humanitarian mission was temporarily suspended after one of the ship's helicopters was shot at in the strife-torn southern Philippines area of [[Mindanao]]. Over the course of the deployment, ''Mercy'' would treat 91,000 patients, including performing 1,369 surgeries.

===Pacific Partnership (2010)===
[[File:JS Kunisaki (LST-4003) and USNS Mercy (T-AH-19) in the South China Sea, -14 Jun. 2010 a.jpg|thumb|{{JDS|Kunisaki|LST-4003}}, two Japanese [[Landing Craft Air Cushion]] hovercraft and USNS ''Mercy'' (T-AH-19) during Pacific Partnership 2010]]

On 24 February 2010, the Commander of the US Pacific Fleet announced that ''Mercy'' will be the lead vessel of Pacific Partnership 2010, a continuation of the recurring humanitarian mission to Southeast Asia and Oceania.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=51550 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214030541/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=51550 |archive-date=14 February 2017 |title=Pacific Fleet Announces Pacific Partnership 2010 |publisher=US Pacific Fleet |agency=Navy News Service |id=NNS100226-03|date=26 February 2010|access-date=2020-04-25}}</ref> For Pacific Partnership 2010 ''Mercy'' visited [[Vietnam]], [[Cambodia]], [[Indonesia]], and [[East Timor]]; treated 109,754 patients, and performed 1,580 surgeries.

===Pacific Partnership (2012)===
3 May 2012 saw ''Mercy'' depart San Diego once again for Pacific Partnership 2012,<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.militarynews.com/norfolk-navy-flagship/news/quarterdeck/msc-hospital-ship-departs-for-humanitarian-mission/article_7741b7fd-8cf1-59b5-9697-d69539e31ac4.html |title=MSC hospital ship departs for humanitarian mission |date=9 May 2012 |publisher=[[Military Sealift Command]]|work=The Flagship|access-date=2020-04-25}}</ref> the latest deployment of the Pacific Partnership series. In an effort to further expand the scope of the mission of "Preparing in Calm to Respond in Crisis", many more man hours of Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) with host nations, Veterinary Care, and construction projects were performed compared to past ''Mercy'' deployments, building the capacity of host nations to respond to regional disasters in a coordinated manner. The ship visited [[Indonesia]], the [[Philippines]], [[Vietnam]], and [[Cambodia]] carrying personnel not only from the Department of Defense, but also 13 partner nations and 28 non-governmental organizations.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=69582 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915084649/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=69582 |archive-date=15 September 2012 |title=USNS Mercy returns following humanitarian mission in SE Asia|last=Patrick|first=Meghan |date=14 September 2012 |publisher=MSC Public Affairs|agency=Navy News Service|id=NNS120914-14|access-date=2020-04-25}}</ref>

The National Conflict Resolution Center honored the master and crew of hospital ship USNS ''Mercy'' with its 25th annual Peacemaker Award for her participation in Pacific Partnership (2012).<ref>{{cite press release |url= https://www.msc.navy.mil/sealift/2013/May/mercy.htm|title=USNS Mercy recognized for humanitarian work |last=Burford|first=Sarah|publisher=MSCPAC Public Affairs|date=May 2013|access-date=21 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151012110101/https://www.msc.navy.mil/sealift/2013/May/mercy.htm|archive-date=2015-10-12|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan (2013)===
In mid-November 2013, ''Mercy'' was ordered to activate for [[Operation Damayan]], the relief effort in response to the devastation caused by [[Typhoon Haiyan]], which struck the Philippines on 7 November 2013. However, ''Mercy'' was deactivated before sailing.<ref name=Navytimes20131113>{{cite news |url=https://news.usni.org/2013/11/14/navy-activates-hospital-ship-mercy-philippines-disaster-relief |title=Navy Activates Hospital Ship Mercy for Philippines Disaster Relief |work=USNI News |author1=LaGrone, Sam |date=14 November 2013 |publisher=United States Naval Institute|access-date=2020-04-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.cbs8.com/story/24077225/usns-mercy-deactivated-not-going-to-philippines |title=USNS Mercy deactivated, not going to Philippines |work=CBS8 San Diego |date=26 November 2013 |access-date=13 October 2014}}</ref>

===Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) (2014)===
The US Navy announced that ''Mercy'' would be participating in RIMPAC 2014, a large multi-national naval exercise involving ships and personnel from 23 countries. In addition to providing medical and surgical care to personnel injured during the exercise, ''Mercy'' participated in multi-lateral Subject Matter Expert Exchanges with other military medical professionals. In addition, ''Mercy'' steamed with ''[[Peace Ark]]'', the hospital ship from the People's Republic of China during phases of the exercise.<ref>{{cite press release|title=23 Nations to Participate in World's Largest Maritime Exercise|url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=80804|publisher=Commander, U.S. Third Fleet Public Affairs|agency=Navy News Service|date=5 May 2014|id=NNS140505-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013203837/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=80804|archive-date=2014-10-13|access-date=2020-04-25|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Pacific Partnership (2015)===
Ten years after the relief effort for victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami, US Pacific Fleet announced that ''Mercy'' would once again participate in Pacific Partnership. Focusing on Subject Matter Expert Exchanges and Community Health Engagements, Pacific Partnership 15 looks to continue the mission of helping nations in the region "Prepare in Calm to Respond in Crisis". Countries hosting ''Mercy'' include [[Fiji]], [[Papua New Guinea]], the Philippines and Vietnam.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pacom.mil/Media/News/News-Article-View/Article/588664/10th-pacific-partnership-mission-prepares-to-renew-regional-ties/ |title=10th Pacific Partnership mission prepares to renew regional ties |publisher=U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs|date=May 13, 2015|access-date=2020-04-25}}</ref>

===Pacific Partnership (2016)===
Celebrating 10 years of Pacific Partnership, US Pacific Fleet announced that ''Mercy'' would continue to participate in the ongoing series of Disaster Preparedness missions. Focusing on local Subject Matter Expert Exchanges, Pacific Partnership 16 continues to "Prepare in Calm to Respond in Crisis". Countries that have invited ''Mercy'' include East Timor, [[Malaysia]], Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/194273/nations-come-together-finalize-plans-pacific-partnership-2016#.VylfjjArLuo|title=Nations Come Together, Finalize Plans for Pacific Partnership 2016|publisher=Commander, Western Logistics Group Pacific |via=Defense Visual Information Distribution Service|date=4 April 2016|access-date=2020-04-25}}</ref>

===Pacific Partnership (2018)===
US Pacific Fleet announced that ''Mercy'' would set sail to [[Sri Lanka]] for Pacific Partnership 2018.<ref>{{cite tweet|author=U.S. Indo-Pacific Command |user=INDOPACOM |number=991885942888644609|title=#PacificPartnership crew engages with the local community as USNS Mercy makes a mission stop in #SriLanka|date=3 May 2018|access-date=14 July 2018}}</ref>

The [[United Seamen's Service]] at its annual Admiral of the Ocean Sea Awards (AOTOS) event honored the masters and crews of hospital ship USNS ''Mercy'' with Special Recognition Mariner's Plaque for her participation in Pacific Partnership (2018).<ref>{{cite web|last=Burford|first=Sarah|url=https://mscsealift.dodlive.mil/2018/11/08/usns-mercy-recognized-for-pacific-partnership-mission/|title=USNS Mercy Recognized for Pacific Partnership Mission|publisher=Military Sealift Command|date=8 November 2018|access-date=21 March 2020|archive-date=22 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322234716/https://mscsealift.dodlive.mil/2018/11/08/usns-mercy-recognized-for-pacific-partnership-mission/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Operational responses during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020) ===
{{Main|Hospital ships designated for the COVID-19 pandemic}}
[[File:USNS Mercy Los Angeles, Ca.jpg|thumb|''Mercy'' arriving in [[Los Angeles]] on 27 March 2020]]
From March until May 2020, ''Mercy'' was deployed to [[Los Angeles]] to provide hospital relief in response to [[Coronavirus disease 2019|COVID-19]].<ref name="Covid">{{cite news |last1=LaGrone |first1=Sam |title=UPDATED: Pentagon Preparing Navy Hospital Ships Mercy, Comfort for Coronavirus Response |url=https://news.usni.org/2020/03/17/pentagon-preparing-navy-hospital-ships-mercy-comfort-for-coronavirus-response |work=USNI News |publisher=United States Naval Institute |date=17 March 2020}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Hospital ship Mercy departs Los Angeles for San Diego|url=https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2020/05/15/hospital-ship-mercy-departs-los-angeles-for-san-diego/|last=Simkins|first=J. D.|date=2020-05-15|website=Navy Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref> The ship arrived and docked at the [[Port of Los Angeles]] cruise ship terminal on 27 March 2020,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.navytimes.com/news/coronavirus/2020/03/27/usns-mercy-arrives-in-los-angeles-to-support-covid-19-response/ |title=USNS Mercy arrives in Los Angeles to support Covid-19 response|last=Correll|first=Diana Stancy|date=27 March 2020|work=Navy Times|access-date=27 March 2020}}</ref> and departed on May 16.<ref name=":0" /> The ship's mission was to treat patients other than those with COVID-19, freeing up land-based hospitals to deal with the virus.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/coronavirus/coronavirus-covid-19-navy-hospital-ship-mercy-los-angeles-california/2336306/ |title=Navy Ship Mercy Arrives in the Port of LA to Help Hospitals Strained by Coronavirus|last1=Lloyd|first1=Jonathan |last2=Chang|first2=Hetty |date=27 March 2020|work=NBC Los Angeles|access-date=27 March 2020}}</ref> The deployment mirrors {{USNS|Comfort|T-AH-20|6}}'s simultaneous mission to support [[COVID-19 pandemic in New York City|New York's COVID-19 response]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Crowds Greet USNS Comfort in NYC Monday; Ship to Help Hospitals With Non-Coronavirus Patients |url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/usns-comfort-arrives-in-nyc-monday-to-help-hospital-with-non-coronavirus-patients/2350317/ |website=NBC New York|date=30 March 2020|access-date=2020-04-25}}</ref> As of 15 April, ''Mercy'' had treated 48 patients, of whom 30 had been discharged.<ref name = nbcnews>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/military/infected-usns-mercy-crew-members-had-contact-with-patients-navy-says/2306268/|title=Infected USNS Mercy Crew Members Had Contact With Patients, Navy Says|last=Naso|first=Bridget|date=15 April 2020|work=NBC San Diego|access-date=16 April 2020}}</ref>{{Update inline|date=May 2020}} Seven crew members have tested positive for the virus and been removed from the ship for quarantine; 100 other sailors who had contact with them were also removed for quarantine.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.navytimes.com/2020/04/14/navy-struggling-to-slow-outbreak-on-usns-mercy-as-7-sailors-test-positive/|title=Navy struggling to slow outbreak on USNS Mercy as 7 sailors test positive|last=Simkins|first=J.D.|date=April 14, 2020|work=Navy Times|access-date=16 April 2020}}</ref><ref name = nbcnews/> She arrived back in [[San Diego]] on 15 May.<ref name=":0"/> This was followed by a seven-month maintenance period during which a flight deck was created between the [[forecastle]] and the [[aftercastle]], for two large helicopters, the [[V-22 Osprey]] and [[MH-60 Seahawk]]. Mercy can also refuel aircraft.<ref name="2021-04-17_NT" />

==== Train derailment ====
On 31 March 2020, while ''Mercy'' was docked, a [[Pacific Harbor Line]] freight train was deliberately [[Derailment|derailed]] by its onboard [[Railroad engineer|engineer]] in an attempt to crash into the ship, but the attack was unsuccessful.<ref name="ABC7 LA 2020-04-01">{{Cite web |url=https://abc7.com/6069395/ |title=Prosecutors: Engineer deliberately ran train off tracks in attempt to smash the USNS Mercy |date=2020-04-01 |website=[[ABC7 Los Angeles]] |access-date=2020-04-04}}</ref><ref name="WaPo 2020-04-02">{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/04/02/train-derails-usns-mercy-coronavirus/ |title=Engineer intentionally crashes train near hospital ship Mercy, believing in weird coronavirus conspiracy, feds say |last=Flynn |first=Meagan |date=2020-04-02 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=2020-04-03}}</ref> According to [[United States Attorney|U.S. federal prosecutors]], the train's engineer "was suspicious of the ''Mercy'', believing it had an alternate purpose related to COVID-19 or a government takeover".<ref name="US DOJ 2020-04-01">{{Cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/train-operator-port-los-angeles-charged-derailing-locomotive-near-us-navy-s-hospital |title=Train Operator at Port of Los Angeles Charged with Derailing Locomotive Near U.S. Navy's Hospital Ship Mercy |last=Thom |first=Mrozek |date=2020-04-01 |website=[[US Department of Justice]] |access-date=2020-04-04}}</ref> The train came to a stop approximately {{convert|750|ft}} from the ship after destroying several barriers and suffered a substantial [[fuel oil]] leak requiring cleanup from fire fighters and hazardous materials personnel.<ref name="US DOJ 2020-04-01" /> No one was injured and the ship was not harmed; the engineer was charged with train wrecking and [[Domestic terrorism|terrorism]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Train Engineer Says He Crashed In Attempt To Attack Navy Hospital Ship In L.A.|publisher=NPR|last=Chappell |first=Bill|date=2 April 2020|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/02/825897966/train-engineer-says-he-crashed-in-attempt-to-attack-navy-hospital-ship-in-l-a|access-date=2020-05-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-16 |title=Central District of California {{!}} San Pedro Train Engineer Pleads Guilty to Terrorism Charge for Intentionally Derailing Locomotive Near U.S. Navy Hospital Ship {{!}} United States Department of Justice |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/san-pedro-train-engineer-pleads-guilty-terrorism-charge-intentionally-derailing |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=www.justice.gov |language=en}}</ref> The engineer later cited [[QAnon|Qanon]] and [[COVID-19 conspiracy theories]] as the reasons for his attack.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Man Inspired by QAnon and Hopped Up on Caffeine Purposefully Derailed Train |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/man-inspired-by-qanon-and-hopped-up-on-caffeine-purposefully-derailed-train/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=Vice.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Awards and decorations==
* [[Navy Unit Commendation]] – (Aug 1990–Mar 1991)
* Navy [[Meritorious Unit Commendation]] – (Feb–Jul 1987, Sep 2001–Jun 2005, Apr–Sep 2006, May–Sep 2010)
* [[Southwest Asia Service Medal]] – (Sep 1990–Mar 1991)
* [[Humanitarian Service Medal]] – (Dec 2004–Feb 2005, [[Operation Unified Assistance]]; May–Jun 2006)
* [[Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation]] – (Feb–Jul 1987)

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|-
!1st row
| colspan=3 style="text-align:center;" | [[Navy Unit Commendation]]
|-
!2nd row
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation]] w/3 [[service star]]s
| style="text-align:center;" | [[National Defense Service Medal]] w/1 [[service star]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Southwest Asia Service Medal]] w/3 [[campaign star]]s
|-
!3rd row
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Humanitarian Service Medal]] w/1 [[service star]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation]]
|}

==General characteristics==
* Specifications:<ref>{{cite book|last=Polmar|first=Norman |title=The Naval Institute Guide to the Ships and Aircraft of the U. S. Fleet|edition=18th |publisher=Naval Institute Press |place=Annapolis, MD |year=2005|isbn=1-59114-685-2|pages=264–266}}</ref>
** Displacement:
*** Full load: 69,390 tons
*** Light: 24,275 tons
** Length:
*** Overall: 894 feet (272.6 meters)
*** Waterline: 854 5/6 feet (260.6 meters)
** Beam: 105 3/4 feet (32.25 meters)
** Draft: 32 5/6 feet (10.0 meters)
** Propulsion: 1 steam turbine, 2 boilers, 1 shaft, 24,500 shaft horsepower
** Speed: 17.5 knots
** Range: 13,400 nautical miles (24,817 kilometers) at 17.5 knots
** Personnel:
*** [[United States Merchant Marine|Merchant Marine]]: 16 ROS; 61 active
*** Navy communications & support: 58 (6 officers, 52 enlisted)
*** Medical and dental (active only): 1,156
** Aviation: helicopter landing platform, 2 spots<ref name="2021-04-17_NT">[https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2021/04/16/v-22-osprey-conducts-inaugural-landing-on-hospital-ship-mercys-new-flight-deck/ V-22 Osprey conducts inaugural landing on hospital ship Mercy's new flight deck], Diana Stancy Correll, NavyTimes.com, 2021-04-17</ref>
* Patient capacity:
** Intensive care wards: 80 beds
** Recovery wards: 20 beds
** Intermediate care wards: 280 beds
** Light care wards: 120 beds
** Limited care wards: 500 beds
** Total patient capacity: 1000 beds
** Operating rooms: 12
* Departments and facilities:
** Casualty reception
** Radiological services including CT
** Main laboratory plus satellite lab
** Central sterile processing
** Medical supply/pharmacy
** Physical therapy and burn care
** Intensive care unit
** Dental services
** Optometry/lens lab
** Morgue
** Laundry
** Burn treatment
** [[Angiography]]
** Blood bank
** Oxygen producing plants (two)

==See also==
* [[Operation Continuing Promise]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.mercy.navy.mil/ Official USNS ''Mercy'' (T-AH-19) homepage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208081022/http://www.mercy.navy.mil/ |date=8 December 2020 }}
* {{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=T-AH-19|title=Naval Vessel Register entry for USNS ''Mercy''}}

{{Mercy class hospital ship}}
{{COVID-19 pandemic in the United States}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mercy (T-Ah-19)}}
[[Category:1975 ships]]
[[Category:COVID-19 pandemic in California]]
[[Category:Hospital ships involved in the COVID-19 pandemic]]
[[Category:Merchant ships of the United States]]
[[Category:Mercy-class hospital ships]]
[[Category:Ships built in San Diego]]
[[Category:Tankers of the United States]]