The Mercy class of hospital ships are converted San Clemente-class supertankers used by the United States Navy.

Originally built in the 1970s by the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, they were acquired by the Navy and converted into hospital ships, coming into service in 1986 and 1987.

[2] Two ships of the class were put into service: Stationed in San Diego, California, Mercy primarily operates in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

In the aftermath of September 11 attacks, Comfort was activated and sent to Manhattan, to provide medical and mental health services.

[9] The Mercy-class ships' size gives them a substantial radar signature that, combined with lack of maneuverability, makes them vulnerable to attack.

In mid-2004 Vice Admiral Michael L. Cowan, the Surgeon General and chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, said that Comfort and Mercy should be retired and that "They're wonderful ships, but they're dinosaurs.