U.S.S. Relief
AH-1
1924
(Saratoga Model Shipyard SMY-81)
- Class: Relief - 1 hospital ship of 1917
- Displacement: 9,800 tons light, 11,350 tons full load
- Dimensions: 483'10" x 61'1" x 19'6"
- Machinery: Steam turbines, twin screws, 5000 shp = 16 knots
- Bed capacity: 550
- Crew: 375
- Builder: Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, PA
- Laid down: 17 Jun 1917
- Launched: 23 Dec 1919
- Commissioned: 28 Dec 1920
- Decommissioned: 11 Jun 1946
- Service: Relief was the U.S. Navy's first purpose-built hospital ship. The only Navy hospital ship in continuous service from 1921 to 1941. Served with the fleet during those years in the Atlantic and Pacific. During WWII she served first in the Atlantic, then transferred in Feb 1943 to the Pacific. Participated in nearly all major operations right up to the Japanese surrender. Then spent five months picking up, treating and transporting American wounded and prisoners of war from the Philippines, Japan, and Korea back to the U.S., as well as transporting British, Australian, and Dutch prisoners of war. Decommissioned in 1946 and sold for scrap in 1948. She received five Battle Stars for her WWII service.
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