Haven class hospital ship

USS Haven (AH-12), the lead ship of her class, seen here in 1954.
Class overview
Operators:	United States Navy
Built:	July 1943 – August 1944
In service:	1944–1989
Completed:	6
Lost:	1
Retired:	5
Preserved:	1
General characteristics
Type:	Hospital ship
Displacement:	11,141 tons empty 15,100 maximum
Length:	520 feet (160 m) 665 feet (203 m) after 1968
Beam:	71 ft 6 in (21.79 m)
Draft:	24 ft (7.3 m)
Propulsion:	Geared Turbine, Single Screw
Speed:	17.5 knots (32.4 km/h)
Capacity:	800 patients
Complement:	95 officers, 606 men
Aircraft carried:	1 MEDEVAC Helicopter

The Haven class of hospital ships was built for the United States Navy (USN) during World War II. Haven-class ships also served in the Korean War and the Vietnam War. They were among the first ships to be able to receive casualties directly by helicopter and were the first fully air conditioned ships in the USN.

The first ship was laid down in July 1943, while the last was launched in August 1944. In that span the United States produced 6 Haven-class hospital ships. The class was based upon the Maritime Commission’s Type C4 ship (as C4-S-B2 design).

The last Haven class ship was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1989. One ship sank in a collision in 1950; four others have been scrapped. Only one Haven-class ship,the ex-USS Sanctuary (AH-17), is still afloat as of 2007.

Haven-class ships

• USS Haven (AH-12) — lead ship of class; used in Operation Crossroads and Korean War
• USS Benevolence (AH-13) — present for Surrender of Japan; sunk 1950 off California coast after collision
• USS Tranquillity (AH-14)
• USS Consolation (AH-15) — first hospital ship to receive casualties directly by helicopter
• USS Repose (AH-16) — last Haven class to be decommissioned; processed 9,000 battle casualties during the Vietnam War
• USS Sanctuary (AH-17) — Only Haven class ship still in existence