The development of marine navigation and the use of ships as medical transport started in the Russian Empire, under Peter the Great. During his military campaigns, naval medicine also began to emerge.
The main tasks of a naval doctor were to maintain hygiene and sanitation on board the ship, monitor the quality of drinking water and food, and care for the sick and wounded. With the development of shipbuilding and changes in the nature of warfare, it was necessary to upgrade the entire system of naval medicine.
Some innovations appeared in this field after the Crimean War. When the Russo-Japanese War broke out, the Russian command took into consideration the specifics of the war and assumed that the number of sick and wounded requiring evacuation by sea would significantly increase. Great attention was paid to the preparation of naval transport: passenger and cargo ships were re-equipped.
Medical evacuation by sea was associated with many difficulties. During the Great Patriotic War, the scale of evacuation exceeded all expectations of the authorities: about 640,000 wounded and sick from the army and navy were evacuated by sea.
In total, 479 ships, including 10 submarines, took part in the evacuation. About 20% of all wounded and sick were evacuated by special medical vessels. 10.4% of the ships were lost during the war.
As the Red Cross flag no longer guaranteed protection for medical transport and hospital ships, they were equipped with weapons, and their color was changed from white to a masking grayish blue. The evacuation of the sick and wounded was carried out in convoy.
The navy’s medical service succeeded in fulfilling the tasks of preparing and carrying out medical evacuation during the Great Patriotic War. This is confirmed by high rates of wounded and sick soldiers, who managed to return to duty: 86.4% and 95.9% respectively.
The Military Medical Museum houses a diorama featuring a model of an evacuation ship. In this diorama, five vehicles are shown delivering the wounded to the pier. The wounded are lifted onto the ship using cradles and stretchers.
The main tasks of a naval doctor were to maintain hygiene and sanitation on board the ship, monitor the quality of drinking water and food, and care for the sick and wounded. With the development of shipbuilding and changes in the nature of warfare, it was necessary to upgrade the entire system of naval medicine.
Some innovations appeared in this field after the Crimean War. When the Russo-Japanese War broke out, the Russian command took into consideration the specifics of the war and assumed that the number of sick and wounded requiring evacuation by sea would significantly increase. Great attention was paid to the preparation of naval transport: passenger and cargo ships were re-equipped.
Medical evacuation by sea was associated with many difficulties. During the Great Patriotic War, the scale of evacuation exceeded all expectations of the authorities: about 640,000 wounded and sick from the army and navy were evacuated by sea.
In total, 479 ships, including 10 submarines, took part in the evacuation. About 20% of all wounded and sick were evacuated by special medical vessels. 10.4% of the ships were lost during the war.
As the Red Cross flag no longer guaranteed protection for medical transport and hospital ships, they were equipped with weapons, and their color was changed from white to a masking grayish blue. The evacuation of the sick and wounded was carried out in convoy.
The navy’s medical service succeeded in fulfilling the tasks of preparing and carrying out medical evacuation during the Great Patriotic War. This is confirmed by high rates of wounded and sick soldiers, who managed to return to duty: 86.4% and 95.9% respectively.
The Military Medical Museum houses a diorama featuring a model of an evacuation ship. In this diorama, five vehicles are shown delivering the wounded to the pier. The wounded are lifted onto the ship using cradles and stretchers.
