USS Franklin and the USS Stark - Recurrent problems in the prevention and treatment of naval battle casualties

Abstract

Events such as the Falklands War and naval actions in the Persian Gulf have emphasized the unique nature of battle casualty care on warships. The purpose of this paper is to describe two actions which illustrate the problems that a medical officer may confront when a warship sustains battle damage: that of the USS Franklin in March 1945 and that of the USS Stark in May 1987. Although neither ship was sunk, damage was severe and about one-quarter of each ship's crew became casualties. More than three-quarters of the casualties were killed, death being due to blast, fire and smoke inhalation.