Future USN hospital ship

Are dedicate ships still the way to go? Not sure. Instead I think containerized hospital modules for LHAs and LHDs (or any other ship capable of receiving helicopter), facilities for a squadron of MEDEVAC helicopters (from all services), and a setup that seamlessly as possible ties together shipboard – in theatre land based – airlift out of theatre medical support would be worth a thought.

well im not the one saying it, its being openly disscused by USN naval planners. Besides there is no gauratee that you will be able to reley on Helico’s what if a bad storm front surges in and that grounds flight ops. having a shallow draft ship that can dock at a asutre pier wouldn’t be that bad.

The similarities between a Navy LCAC and an airplane are substantial. And just like helicopter operations, LCACs operations are weather sensitive:

“The LCAC operational seastate envelope includes full mission capability through sea state three, limited capability in sea state four, and survival in sea state five”
http://www.dtic.mil/dticasd/sbir/sttr03/n015.pdf

Dutch LPD ‘Rotterdam: “is capable of carrying out helicopter operations up to Sea State 6 while operations with (conventional) landing craft are possible up to Sea State 4.”
http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/rotterdam/

Dutch National Aerospace Laboratory ship-based helicopter flight tests in a range of rough sea conditions (up to sea state 6 during both daytime & at night) underlie these figures for helicopters.
http://www.nlr.nl/?id=9043&l=en
http://www.nlr.nl/smartsite.dws?l=en&ch=&id=9045

About LAMPS III operations from destroyers/frigates:
“Helicopter takeoffs and landings were limited to sea states in which the ship did not roll prohibitively.
Acceptable conditions occurred in the North Atlantic only 69 percent of the time during winter or less considering precipitation, icing and limited visibility.
Frigates were more affected than destroyers and could operate helicopters just 25 percent of the time in the same seas.
…
The Canadian RAST (recovery assist, secure and traversing) system was installed for landing and flight deck handling of the heavier SH-60B helicopters.
RAST supported helicopter operations during sea state 5 conditions that would ground helicopters flying from conventional shipboard flight decks.”
http://www.navsource.org/archives/01/57s3.htm

well im not the one saying it, its being openly disscused by USN naval planners. Besides there is no gauratee that you will be able to reley on Helico’s what if a bad storm front surges in and that grounds flight ops. having a shallow draft ship that can dock at a asutre pier wouldn’t be that bad.

Well there were complaints about the Mercy’s response times during the Haitian crisis last year, and both ships are fairly expenses to maintain and getting long in the tooth. There has been talk in some ‘real’ naval circles that the next hospital ship should be a high speed shallow draft vessel of some kind. Also until recently the idea was that the a modified LPD-17 would of taken up that role but due to rising costs and other issues that is being reevaluated. I personally think a well deck would be a attractive feature on a medical ship,but the T-AKE is just simply cheaper, as well as some modified foreign Amphibs, (especially the Mistral or Bay class.) Lastly, China has once again proven you do not necessary need a milspec ship for ever role.

Don’t see any need for shallow draft and dock as medivac is mostly by heli. A modified fast container ship would do nicely IMHO.

Well there were complaints about the Mercy’s response times during the Haitian crisis last year, and both ships are fairly expenses to maintain and getting long in the tooth. There has been talk in some ‘real’ naval circles that the next hospital ship should be a high speed shallow draft vessel of some kind. Also until recently the idea was that the a modified LPD-17 would of taken up that role but due to rising costs and other issues that is being reevaluated. I personally think a well deck would be a attractive feature on a medical ship,but the T-AKE is just simply cheaper, as well as some modified foreign Amphibs, (especially the Mistral or Bay class.) Lastly, China has once again proven you do not necessary need a milspec ship for ever role.

Personally I think something like a JHSV small hospital and T-AKE/LPD big hosiptial would be a good combination. The JHSV would normally support GFS roles and non disaster humanitarian ops (like when a LHA or LHD goes on one of its good will partnership building mini deployments), and other feel good jobs, as well as provided additional capabilities for military operations, while the big ships would be held in more reserve for big disasters (Sumatra/Hati level) and military operations. Hell even two JHSV T-AH and two 25 KT T-AH would be a good buy.

Mercy class: http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4400&tid=400&ct=4

Both these hospital ships are converted San Clemente-class super tankers.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/93198821@N00/244888709/

What’s wrong with this approach? Tankers aplenty, I would say.

I agree and converted commerical is looking more and more appealing, especially after China’s success. I also think a larger fleet of T-AH’s is more in line with the US’s maritime and foreign policy strategy (plus it would provide jobs to help our economy.)

[*]Modified comerical design, similar to what the PLAN did with its Type 920 hospital ship

Hi Phil,
For me, the “modified commercial” option was maybe the best cheaper and effective solution

Number ?
Hmmm, up to 4 ships because:
– Hospital and humanitarian ops were clearly “trendy”, and infortunatly:(, with a poverty expected to exist even trought the 21 st century in many country, I think that a specialized ship were very effective, but only affordable for the largest navy

– Number for US navy, up to 4 (this figure allow a reasonable number of 2 ships at sea, ready for any catastrophic event and ensure the US aid* around the world).

* A humanitaria aid mainly in central america, africa and in few asiatic/pacific country’s.