Throughout history, the submarine has been an essential part of the United States Navy military operations. During World War II, these submarines were the homes to thousands of Navy personnel. Along with personnel, each submarine contained thousands of pounds of deadly asbestos. This asbestos was supplied by companies that knew the asbestos was dangerous and knew that, eventually, thousands of servicemen would contract terrible diseases from exposure to this mineral. But the companies chose profit over safety and hid those dangers from the navy and the servicemen.
Asbestos was used frequently for the insulation of pipes, boilers, electrical fixtures and hull construction. It was also used as a fire retardant material in many areas aboard ship, including non-skid flooring on decks and on bulk head walls. The worst areas on submarine were in the fire, pump, and engine rooms where insulation covered the pipes and wiring. Some of the personnel most at risk include boiler tenders, electrician's mates, enginemen, machinist mates, pipefitters, and shipfitters.
Many of the companies that supplied asbestos products to the navy have admitted fault and set up trust funds to compensate navy veterans. If you know someone who has mesothelioma, contact us to learn more about your rights.
Below offers a list of some submarines that were commissioned between 1940 and 1990 and contained risks of asbestos exposure. Personnel aboard any of these ships or civilians that provided shipyard maintenance, repair or deconstruction may have been at risk of asbestos exposure.
United States Navy Submarine Listing
- USS Albacore (SS-218
- USS Amber Jack (SS-219)
- USS Angler (SS-240)
- USS Apogon (SS-308)
- USS Archer-Fish (SS-311)
- USS Argonaut (SM-1)
- USS Aspro (SS-309)
- USS Atule (SS-403)
- USS Balao (SS-285)
- USS Bang (SS-385)
- USS Barb (SS-220)
- USS Barbel (SS-316)
- USS Barbero (SS-317)
- USS Barracuda (SS-163)
- USS Bashaw (SS-241)
- USS Bergall (SS-320)
- USS Besugo (SS-321)
- USS Billfish (SS-286)
- USS Blackfin (SS-322)
- USS Blackfish (SS-221)
- USS Blenny (SS-324)
- USS Blower (SS-325)
- USS Burrfish (SS-312)
- USS Cabezon (SS-334)
- USS Carbonero (SS-337)
- USS Guardfish (SS-217)
- USS Hake (SS-256)
- USS Hammerhead (SS-364)
- USS Harder (SS-257)
- USS Hardhead (SS-365)
- USS Hawkbill (SS-366)
- USS Icefish (SS-367)
- USS Jack (SS-259)
- USS Jallao (SS-368)
- USS Kete (SS-369)
- USS Kingfish (SS-234)
- USS Kraken (SS-370)
- USS Lagarto (SS-371)
- USS Lapon (SS-260)
- USS Lion Fish (SS-298)
- USS Lizardfish (SS-373)
- USS Loggerhead (SS-374)
- USS Macabi (SS-375)
- USS Mackerel (SS-204)
- USS Manta (SS-299)
- USS Mapiro (SS-376)
- USS Marlin (SS-205)
- USS Medregal (SS-480)
- USS Menhaden (SS-377)
- USS Mingo (SS-261)
- USS Moray (SS-300)
- USS Muskallunge (SS-262)
- USS Narwhal (SS-167)
- USS Nautilus (SS-168)
- USS Nautilus (SSN-571)
- USS Paddle (SS-263)
- USS Pampanito (SS-383)
- USS Parche (SS-384)
- USS Pargo (SS-264)
- USS Perch (SS-176)
- USS Permit (SS-178)
- USS Peto (SS-265)
- USS Pickerel (SS-177)
- USS Picuda (SS-382)
- USS Pike (SS-173)
- USS Pilotfish (SS-386)
- USS Pintado (SS-387)
- USS Pipefish (SS-388)
- USS Plaice (SS-390)
- USS Plunger (SS-179)
- USS Pogy (SS-266)
- USS Pollack (SS-180)
- USS Pomfret (SS-391)
- USS Pompano (SS-181)
- USS Pompon (SS-267)
- USS Porpoise (SS-172)
- USS Puffer (SS-268)
- USS Queenfish (SS-393)
- USS Quillback (SS-424)
- USS Rasher (SS-269)
- USS Raton (SS-270)
- USS Ray (SS-271)
- USS Razorback (SS-394)
- USS Red Fish (SS-395)
- USS Redfin (SS-272)
- USS Robalo (SS-273)
- USS Rock (SS-274)
- USS Ronquil (SS-396)
- USS Runner (SS-275)
- USS Runner (SS-476)
- USS S-1 (SS-105)
- USS S-20 (SS-125)
- USS S-21 (SS-126)
- USS S-31 (SS-136)
- USS S-46 (SS-157)
- USS Sabalo (SS-302)
- USS Sablefish (SS-303)
- USS Silversides (SS-236)
- USS Sirago (SS-485)
- USS Spinax (SS-489)
- USS Springer (SS-414)
- USS Sterlet (SS-392)
- USS Tang (SS-306)
- USS Threadfin (SS-410)
- USS Tinosa (SS-283)
- USS Tinosa (SSN-606)
- USS Tirante (SS-420)
- USS Torsk (SS-423)
- USS Trumpet Fish (SS-425)
- USS Wahoo (SS-238)
- USS Whale (SS-239)
- USS Whale (SSN-638)
- USS Alabama (SSBN-731)
- USS Alaska (SSBN-732)
- USS Bass (SF-5/SS-164)
- USS Bonita (SF-6/SS-165)
- USS Cachalot (SC-4/SS-170)
- USS Cuttlefish (SC-5/SS-171)
- USS Dolphin (SF-10/SC-3/SS-169)
- USS Florida (SSBN-728/SSGN-728)
- USS Georgia (SSBN-729/SSGN-729)
- USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN-730)
- USS Michigan (SSBN-727/SSGN-727)
- USS Nevada (SSBN-733)
- USS Ohio (SSBN-726/SSGN-726)
- USS Pennsylvania (SSBN-735)
- USS Sailfish (SS-192)
- USS Salmon (SS-182)
- USS Sargo (SS-188)
- USS Saury (SS-189)
- USS Sculpin (SS-191)
- USS Seadragon (SS-194)
- USS Seal (SS-183)
- USS Sealion (SS-195)
- USS Searaven (SS-196)
- USS Seawolf (SS-197)
- USS Shark (SS-174)
- USS Skipjack (SS-184)
- USS Snapper (SS-185)
- USS Spearfish (SS-190)
- USS Stingray (SS-186)
- USS Sturgeon (SS-187)
- USS Swordfish (SS-193)
- USS Tarpon (SS-175)
- USS Tennessee (SSBN-734)
- USS West Virginia (SSBN-736)
