USS Benevolence (AH-13) Moored in Bikini Atoll lagoon, during Operation "Crossroads", mid-July 1946. Several of the operation target ships are visible in the background.
May 1945 joined the USS Benevolence (AH-13). That vessel, anchored off Eniwetok, received the sick and wounded brought back from Third Fleet operations against Japan and later joined the Third Fleet for its last strikes against the enemy. After the cessation of hostilities, that hospital ship remained in Japanese waters, off Yokosuka, to assist in the processing of liberated Allied prisoners of war. The Benevolence returned to the United States with wounded servicemen in late-1945.
With a bed capacity of 802 and a complement of 564, the Benevolence departed for the Pacific on 27 July 1945 to provide hospital services, consultation, preventative medicine, and casualty evacuation. Receiving battle casualties from the 3rd Fleet during Campaigns against Japan.
Upon Victory over Japan Day, Benevolence was present with the Allied Fleet in Tokyo Harbor during the Surrender of Japan. She anchored off Yokosuka, Japan, 29 August to begin processing liberated Allied prisoners of war where she screened 1520 POWâ??s. She remained in Japanese waters until 27 November 1945 and then returned wounded to the United States, arriving in San Francisco on 12 December 1945. She served as a casualty evacuation ship between Pearl Harbor and San Francisco from December until February 1946 and then underwent an overhaul until 1 April 1946.
Ordered: 19 February 1942
Launched: 24 June 1944
Acquired: 19 June 1944
Commissioned: 5 May 1945
Decommissioned: 1 July 1947
30 June 1957
Fate: Sunk off San Francisco, California, in a collision April 1950
General characteristics
Displacement: 11,141 tons empty (15,100 max)
Length: 520 ft (160 m)
Beam: 71.5 ft (21.8 m)
Draught: 23.5 ft (7.2 m)
Propulsion: Geared Turbine, Single Screw
Speed: 17.5 kts
Capacity: 800 patients
Complement: 95 Officers 606 men
Armament: NONE
