US hospital ship to sail towards Iraq

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The giant United States Navy hospital ship, USNSF Comfort, is due to set sail from her home port of Baltimore on Monday.

Her deployment is part of the growing US build-up for possible war with Iraq.

The navy will not say exactly where the ship is heading but it is thought to be Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

She will have about 300 of a total crew of more than 1,000 aboard. Most staff will only be flown out to join the vessel if war looks imminent.

Floating hospital

The Comfort is a sobering reminder of the potential costs of conflict.

She can handle up to 1,000 casualties at a time, has 12 operating theatres and is equipped to deal with the effects of chemical and biological attacks.

Her departure is the clearest signal yet that a new phase in the US build-up is under way.

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2003

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-- Anonymous, January 06, 2003

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