T-AHs are afloat surgical hospitals designed for extensive Echelon III HSS of combat operations at sea and ashore.  Functioning under the provisions set forth in the Geneva Convention, they have capabilities equivalent to a CONUS general hospital.

The primary mission of the T-AHs, as prescribed in the ROC and POE, is to provide mobile, flexible, rapidly responsive afloat medical capability, along with acute medical and surgical care in support of ATFs, Marine Corps, Army and Air Force elements, forward-deployed elements of the fleet, and fleet activities in areas where hostilities may be imminent.  

In support of the primary mission, the T-AH will:

1. Receive patients who are suffering from wounds and DNBI primarily by helicopter, but also by boat, while anchored or underway.

2. Provide surgical and other HSS to patients until they can be returned to duty or evacuated to other acute care facilities or to CONUS for further treatment.

3. Provide a safe, stable, mobile platform, out of imminent danger, for carrying out the assigned mission.

4. Provide all the necessary personnel services and facilities required for support of the medical command.

5. Operate the full medical facility while at sea.

6. Provide 12 operating rooms, 1,000 beds, and associated medical support while in its highest readiness condition (Condition I: Battle Readiness).  This includes 80 beds for intensive care, 20 beds for recovery, 400 beds for intermediate care, and 500 beds for minimal care.

7. Carry out extended operations off a hostile beachhead and provide an aviation facility with minimal helicopter support capabilities, for both day and night operations.  Helicopter operations will be conducted for both delivery and evacuation of patients to other facilities.

8. Deploy within 5 days from receipt of mobilization orders.

9. Refuel at sea from other ships.

10. Receive and deliver dry cargo (supplies, provisions) by VERTREP, CONREP, or small boat.

11. Remain in a continuous condition of Readiness III (Wartime and Deployed Cruising).  Operational systems are manned and operating to conform with prescribed ROCs, while also accomplishing normal underway maintenance, support, and administrative functions.

The T-AHs secondary mission is to provide a full hospital service asset available for use by other Government agencies involved in support of disaster relief operations and humanitarian assistance missions worldwide.  Additional information on T-AH platforms may be found in the "T-AH 19 Class Hospital Ship General Information Manual" and in NWP 4-02.4, Part B.

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Operational Medicine 2001

Health Care in Military Settings

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