The U.S. Navy requires marine ambulance — a floating hospital to provide emergency assistance to servicemen with injuries of mild to moderate severity. This is supposed to convert high-speed transport vessel normally used for landing ashore of troops and military equipment in expeditionary medical transport (EMT).
Most suitable option is a high speed landing ship-catamaran USNS Burlington. Having a shallow draft, it can go up literally to the edge of the shore. The medical service of the Navy has requested $ 49 million for its conversion into a floating hospital.
The length of the catamaran is 103 meters, a displacement of 2,500 tons, a cruising range of about 2000 km, speed – 74 km/h. a Floating hospital designed for 312 troops and carries on Board an evacuation transports the size of the tank “Abrams”. Unloading and loading will be done by rail or helicopter.
The main functions of the EMT– sorting, resuscitation, evacuation, treatment of the wounded and sick to their recovery, as well as emergency dental (!) help. It is not excluded that the vessel will be undergoing emergency medical surgery, followed by treatment.
Source — USNI News