The USS Benjamin Franklin (SSBN-640) was the first of the Benjamin Franklin-class ballistic missile submarine that served the United States Navy from 1965 to 1993. Like other submarines constructed during the Cold War era, the Benjamin Franklin’s structure and interior made extensive use of asbestos-containing materials. This was a significant health hazard for the hundreds of sailors who served aboard her during nearly three decades of operation: They now face the risk of developing mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and other serious asbestos-related diseases.
About the USS Benjamin Franklin and the Benjamin Franklin-class Submarines
The Benjamin Franklin-class submarines were the final evolution of the Navy’s “41 for Freedom” ballistic missile submarine program, and the quietest and most advanced technology of the Lafayette-type submarines.[1] The USS Benjamin Franklin (SSBN-640), namesake of the class, was built to honor Benjamin Franklin, the renowned statesman, scientist, inventor, and writer who played a crucial role in America’s founding.[2]
The Benjamin Franklin and her sister ships measured 425 feet in length with a beam of 33 feet, and were significantly larger than earlier ballistic missile submarines. Her displacement reached 7,350 tons surfaced and 8,250 tons submerged. She carried a crew complement of 141 men – 15 officers and 126 enlisted personnel – which operated in alternating Blue and Gold crews. The submarine was powered by a single S5W Westinghouse pressurized water nuclear reactor that produced 15,000 shaft horsepower and was capable of a speed of 21 knots on the surface and 16 knots while submerged. Her primary armament consisted of 16 ballistic missiles in vertical launch tubes, plus four 21-inch torpedo tubes forward.[1]
Construction and Service History
Construction of the USS Benjamin Franklin began in May 1962 at the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut. She was launched in December 1964 and commissioned in October 1965 under the command of Captain Donald M. Miller with Commander Ross N. Williams as the Gold Crew commander.[3]
Following commissioning, the Benjamin Franklin underwent shakedown operations and weapons testing. During her shakedown cruise, she achieved a notable milestone by successfully launching a Polaris A-3 missile in coordination with the Gemini VII astronauts Frank Borman and Jim Lovell, who photographed the missile from orbit.[4]
After a tactical loadout in Charleston, South Carolina, the Benjamin Franklin transited the Panama Canal and was assigned to the Pacific Fleet, arriving at Pearl Harbor in April 1966. The Blue Crew deployed on the submarine’s first deterrent patrol in May, completing it when the vessel arrived in Guam.
For most of her service life, the Benjamin Franklin operated from the Pacific, conducting strategic deterrent patrols throughout the Cold War. In February 1969, she was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation for maintaining exceptional readiness from commissioning through September 1968.
The submarine underwent major upgrades throughout her service. In 1970, she returned to Electric Boat Company for a Poseidon conversion, completed in May 1972. She completed 16 Poseidon deterrent patrols before entering Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in November 1979 for her second overhaul, during which the Trident I weapon system was installed. This overhaul was completed in September 1981.
In July 1985, the Benjamin Franklin transferred to Norfolk, Virginia, and SubRon8, serving as an “SSN Asset” while awaiting her third overhaul. After transferring to Charleston, South Carolina, in July 1986, she began a reactor refueling overhaul completed in November 1988.
The Benjamin Franklin achieved several significant milestones during her career. In December 1983, she completed her 51st patrol, marking the 2,200th Strategic Deterrent Patrol made by a Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine. Upon completion of her 62nd patrol in October 1990, she was awarded SubRon18’s Battle Efficiency “E” and named Atlantic Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine of the Year for FY-1990, earning a second Meritorious Unit Commendation.
The Benjamin Franklin completed a total of 69 deterrent patrols during her service career and was decommissioned in November 1993, after 28 years of distinguished service.
Naval Reliance on Asbestos Materials
Throughout the first three-quarters of the 20th century, the United States Navy systematically integrated asbestos into its entire fleet’s construction, with submarine applications reaching their peak during the Cold War era. Naval architects and engineers held asbestos in high regard because of its remarkable heat-resistant characteristics, outstanding insulation capabilities, and resistance to chemical degradation. These properties were invaluable for protecting vessels operating under extreme conditions, and since submarines were particularly vulnerable to catastrophic failures, they incorporated massive quantities of the hazardous material.
Both the construction and subsequent modernizations of the USS Benjamin Franklin occurred during the height of the Navy’s reliance on asbestos. Cold War fears and strategic requirements increased the military’s dependence on the mineral’s protective qualities. Rather than using the material selectively, naval specifications required asbestos integration across all submarine systems. Despite growing awareness of health hazards linked to asbestos exposure, its use continued well into the 1970s, even after the medical establishment had definitively established connections between asbestos exposure and fatal respiratory diseases and cancers.
By 1973, the Navy had been made fully aware of the dangers of asbestos and began restricting its use in new construction and major vessel overhauls. By 1975, it had largely eliminated the material from new installations, though existing asbestos materials in thousands of ships remained undisturbed until maintenance operations required their removal.
Managing the extensive asbestos legacy embedded throughout the fleet presented enormous challenges for the Navy. The service developed comprehensive asbestos control procedures, including detailed surveys of existing materials, specialized training for personnel who might encounter asbestos during repair work, and strict protocols for handling and disposal. Complete asbestos removal was determined to be impractical given the massive scale of the undertaking, so instead, the Navy emphasized containment, encapsulation, and careful oversight of the hazardous materials until affected vessels could be retired from active service.[5]
Asbestos Distribution Throughout the USS Benjamin Franklin
The USS Benjamin Franklin contained asbestos in virtually every section and system across the submarine. Naval construction standards and military requirements specified asbestos-containing products wherever thermal protection, fire prevention, or insulation was necessary, so the toxic mineral was distributed throughout the submarine’s infrastructure, including:
- Propulsion and Mechanical Spaces
The submarine’s propulsion areas, including the reactor compartment, machinery spaces, and auxiliary equipment rooms, were extensively lined with asbestos insulation to protect equipment and personnel from extreme temperatures. Steam piping, exhaust systems, and propulsion machinery were wrapped or sprayed with the substance, and thermal blankets were available for crew protection from hot surfaces. Essential valves and connections also incorporated asbestos gaskets and sealing materials to prevent system failures and ensure operational reliability.
- Living Quarters and Operational Areas, Power Systems and Safety Equipment
Asbestos was in flooring materials, wall panels, ceiling components, and protective coatings throughout berthing areas, mess areas, and working spaces. Power distribution systems relied heavily on asbestos-containing cable insulation, electrical conduits, and switchboard materials, and the submarine’s safety response equipment, including firefighting systems and protective devices, incorporated asbestos fibers for protection against high temperatures and flames.
- Ventilation Networks
Ventilation systems and air handling equipment were essential aboard the sealed environment of submarines. Unfortunately, while they provided life support, they also circulated any asbestos particles released through routine maintenance, as well as from the system’s own contaminated insulation and filtering components. Even standard supplies and parts and adhesive compounds contained significant asbestos concentrations, and the submarine’s armament systems also incorporated asbestos for thermal protection and fire resistance in missile compartments and related equipment.
Crew Members at Risk of Asbestos Exposure Aboard the USS Benjamin Franklin
Every sailor who served aboard the USS Benjamin Franklin and every shipyard technician involved in overhauls and repairs faced potential asbestos exposure due to the pervasive presence of asbestos-containing materials throughout the vessel. Its extremely cramped quarters and limited ventilation caused microscopic asbestos fibers to spread throughout all compartments whenever they became airborne from repair activities, equipment operation, or routine procedures.
Even without the risks posed by asbestos, submarine conditions create distinctive dangers. They are completely enclosed environments, and fresh air exchange is minimal. The continuous recirculation significantly increases the risks of exposure for everyone on board to any type of hazard or illness. The same was true of the risk of developing asbestos-related diseases, but certain crew members faced heightened exposure risks due to their specialties and work locations. This included:
- Engineering department personnel
- Nuclear reactor operators
- Electricians’ mates
- Missile technicians
- Electronics specialists
- Personnel responsible for removing asbestos insulation during repair operations
- Ordnance specialists
Even crew members who weren’t directly involved in maintenance or repair operations faced exposure hazards through contaminated clothing, the shared ventilation system, and the presence of asbestos materials in common living and working areas. The submarine’s confined spaces meant that asbestos fibers disturbed in one section could easily migrate throughout the entire vessel, potentially affecting all personnel aboard.
Health Hazards of Asbestos
Asbestos presents grave health threats that can remain hidden for decades before manifesting as devastating illnesses. The mineral is fibrous and easily breaks down into microscopic particles when damaged. These get released into the air as fine dust that can be breathed in or swallowed. They can get trapped in the lungs, chest cavity lining, and other tissues, and once their needle-like ends have become embedded in cells, they can trigger chronic inflammation and cellular destruction, eventually leading to malignancies and other fatal conditions.
Mesothelioma represents the most devastating asbestos-related disease. This rare and deadly form of cancer is always fatal and almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. The life expectancy for patients diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma is only about 12 to 21 months following diagnosis, while those diagnosed with peritoneal mesotheliomalive a few years longer. Whether it manifests in the lungs, heart, or abdomen, the disease attacks the mesothelium, a protective membrane that keeps organs from sticking to one another. Mesothelioma symptoms generally emerge 20 to 50 years after exposure, and include chest pain, breathing difficulties, chronic cough, and abdominal distension.
Asbestos exposure also substantially elevates the risk of lung cancer. Asbestos-related lung cancer may not manifest for 15 to 35 years after exposure and often presents with symptoms resembling other lung cancer types, including persistent cough, chest pain, and breathing problems. It is far more likely to develop when asbestos exposure is combined with cigarette smoking.
Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease in which exposure to asbestos causes scarring in the lung tissue. This evolves into progressively worsening respiratory difficulties, chronic cough, and substantial chest pain.
Pleural plaques, pleural effusions, and diffuse pleural thickening are disabling conditions that affect quality of life. All affect the lung lining, creating respiratory difficulties and pain, and often signaling future diagnoses with malignant conditions.
Compensation and Legal Remedies for USS Benjamin Franklin Veterans
A troubling number of Navy veterans who served aboard the USS Benjamin Franklin and other submarines have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases as a consequence of asbestos manufacturers’ failure to disclose the material’s dangers. Being diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness can make you feel helpless, but you do have options. The Department of Veterans Affairs has acknowledged the impact of asbestos exposure during service for countless veterans and has established pathways for both disability compensation and specialized medical care. Additionally, countless veterans have been successful in pursuing justice from the asbestos manufacturers and suppliersresponsible for their exposure, and this has resulted in billions of dollars in jury verdicts and out-of-court settlements.
Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides extensive benefits for veterans with service-connected asbestos-related illnesses. Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis can submit claims for disability compensation, specialized medical care, and additional benefits for their dependents. The VA recognizes mesothelioma as a service-connected illness for veterans exposed during their military service, which accelerates the claims process for those affected. Mesothelioma’s designation as 100% disabling ensures maximum compensation.
Legal Action
In addition to VA benefits, veterans are frequently eligible to pursue legal claims against the manufacturers and distributors of asbestos-containing products used aboard their vessels and in their post-service lives. While veterans can’t sue the Navy or the federal government directly, they can pursue compensation from these private companies, and successful litigation can result in significant settlements or jury awards to cover medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. Thousands of cases have been successfully resolved against companies that produced insulation, seals, valves, pumps, and other asbestos-containing materials found aboard submarines like the USS Benjamin Franklin.
Asbestos Compensation Funds
Asbestos compensation trusts represent another vital source of financial support for affected veterans. Though these funds don’t generally disperse the same amount as successful litigation does, they do provide an attractive alternative to a prolonged and often demanding legal process. Established specifically to compensate victims diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses decades into the future, these funds have paid out billions of dollars in claims and maintain another $30 billion for future victims.
Legal Assistance and Support for USS Benjamin Franklin Veterans Diagnosed with Mesothelioma
Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness should speak with a qualified asbestos attorney as soon as possible after their diagnosis. These knowledgeable legal professionals specialize in assisting those with both workplace and military exposure. They understand the distinctive challenges of documenting naval service exposure and have expansive resources to help them identify all potentially liable parties and available compensation sources. In addition to coordinating and implementing a comprehensive legal strategy, they’ll help with assembling and filing VA claims. Their objective is to reduce the burden on affected veterans and their families while maximizing the compensation they obtain.
There are government-imposed time limits for filing personal injury claims, including those involving asbestos-related illnesses, so affected veterans interested in doing so need to speak with legal counsel as soon as possible after diagnosis. Quick action will help your mesothelioma lawyer begin collecting service records, medical documentation, and other evidence necessary to build a strong case. With the right legal team, veterans who become ill after serving aboard the USS Benjamin Franklin can access the benefits and compensation they deserve.
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