The USS Argonaut (SS-475) was a Balao-class submarine that operated in the United States Navy from 1945 to 1968. Like most of the Navy fleet ordered before and during World War II and beyond, the vessel was built with extensive amounts of asbestos and equipped with asbestos-containing equipment. Exposure to that carcinogenic material put hundreds of Navy personnel at risk of developing mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, and additional severe diseases linked to asbestos contact.
History of the USS Argonaut and the Balao-class Submarines
Balao-class submarines, including the USS Argonaut, were built in the 1940s and were at the leading edge of underwater warfare technology. Drawing its name from the argonaut, a marine mollusk related to the octopus (also known as the paper nautilus) that moves through water by expelling jets, the submarine also honored both a legendary Greek vessel and an earlier pioneering underwater craft from 1897.[1]
The Argonaut and her sister Balao-class vessels stretched 311 feet 8 inches from bow to stern, with a 27-foot 3-inch beam and a 15-foot 5-inch draft. Standard displacement reached 1,570 tons, expanding to 2,415 tons when diving. The submarine housed 81 officers and crew members within extremely cramped conditions. Surface speeds reached 20.25 knots, while submerged operations were limited to 8.75 knots, propelled by either General Motors or Fairbanks-Morse model diesel engines. Her offensive capabilities included ten 21-inch torpedo tubes, complemented by a 5-inch deck gun and 40mm anti-aircraft weapons.[2]
Build History and Naval Operations
Work on the USS Argonaut began in June 1944 at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in New Hampshire. The vessel was launched in October of that year, with Mrs. Allen R. McCann serving as sponsor, and her final commissioning occurred in January 1945.[1]
She was placed under the command of Lieutenant Commander John Sneed Schmidt, and following initial trials off the shore of Portsmouth and at Narragansett Bay, the Argonaut completed post-commissioning modifications by late March 1945. She left for Key West, Florida, in mid-April to participate in experimental programs involving lighter-than-air aircraft cooperation and Fleet Sound School training exercises, then transited the Panama Canal in May, reaching Pearl Harbor in June for preparations and training before her first war patrol in June.
World War II
The Argonaut’s World War II service was brief: She was assigned to patrol the Formosa Strait and the surrounding waters of the East China and Yellow Seas weeks before the war’s conclusion. Her most notable action came in July, when she rescued a downed aviator, later transferring him to USS Quillback (SS-424). Her combat engagement was minimal – in August, she destroyed a 25-ton Japanese junk using her 40mm and 20mm guns. Japan surrendered six days before the submarine’s patrol was scheduled to end in Guam. She earned one battle star recognizing her World War II contribution.[1]
Post-war Operations
In September 1945, the Argonaut transited to Tompkinsville, New York, via Pearl Harbor and Panama. After arriving there in October, she proceeded to Portsmouth for major overhaul work. Early 1946 brought an assignment to the Atlantic Fleet with Panama as her operational base, but during transit to Panama, she collided with the USS Honolulu (CL-48) in heavy fog between New York and Philadelphia. Fortunately, both vessels sustained only minor damage. Later in 1946, she joined Submarine Squadron 2 at New London, Connecticut.
The submarine underwent major modernization at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in July 1952. Improvements included installing snorkel systems and a streamlined conning tower that significantly enhanced her underwater endurance. The Argonaut operated from New London until July 1955, then relocated to Norfolk, Virginia, as part of Submarine Squadron 6. Another conversion there changed her into a guided-missile platform armed with Regulus I weapons.
The submarine’s home port shifted to San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 1958 for specialized missile operations that lasted approximately one year. Returning to Norfolk in 1959, the vessel underwent a modification in early 1960 that removed her missile systems. She then returned to conventional antisubmarine warfare (ASW) training duties.
October 1962 found the Argonaut participating in the Cuban naval quarantine operations. A regular overhaul at Norfolk Naval Shipyard was completed in May 1963. After refresher training near New London and additional exercises off the Virginia coast, she deployed to the Mediterranean in August to serve with the 6th Fleet. Port visits included Gibraltar, Suda Bay, Crete, Rhodes, Greece, Izmir, Turkey, Toulon and Marseilles, France, plus San Remo and Naples, Italy, before she returned home in December.
Routine East Coast operations with periodic Mediterranean deployments continued through the end of 1965, when another major overhaul began at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Sea trials resumed in June 1966, followed by refresher training at New London and submarine school support duties for the remainder of that year.
Early 1967 brought relocation to Norfolk, though the submarine soon departed in early January for San Juan, Puerto Rico, to participate in Operation “Springboard” before returning to Norfolk. After two months of Mediterranean cruise preparations, she sailed in late May for an extensive North Atlantic and Mediterranean deployment, visiting Trondheim, Norway, Cuxhaven, Germany, Leith, Scotland, Rota, Spain, Naples, Italy, and Valletta, Malta before returning in September.
The Argonaut’s final operational period began with drydock work at New London in February 1968. She returned to Norfolk, and after patrolling the Jacksonville operating area in March and a brief stop at Port Everglades, Florida, she resumed local Norfolk operations. A final cruise to Port Everglades in October preceded decommissioning preparations.
The USS Argonaut was decommissioned in December 1968, struck from the Navy list the same day, and subsequently sold to Canada for service as HMCS Rainbow in the Royal Canadian Navy.
Naval Asbestos Use
Beginning in the early 1900s, the U.S. Navy adopted asbestos as a standard construction material across its fleet. The practice increased dramatically during World War II and continued throughout the Cold War decades.[3] Asbestos offered outstanding heat resistance, superior insulation, and exceptional durability against corrosion, all properties that were considered essential for protecting warships operating under extreme conditions. Submarines have the dual challenge of unique hazards and extremely confined spaces, so the material’s protective characteristics and flexible composition led to it being used for everything from pipe coverings and sealing components to electrical systems and fire prevention materials.
The USS Argonaut was constructed and modernized during the peak period of naval asbestos utilization, when military specifications mandated its incorporation throughout submarines, destroyers, cruisers, and aircraft carriers. Despite emerging health concerns regarding asbestos exposure risks, this widespread implementation continued well into the 1970s, when scientific evidence conclusively demonstrated the connection between asbestos contact and severe respiratory illnesses and cancer. By 1973, the Navy had initiated restrictions on asbestos use in new construction and major vessel overhauls, largely eliminating the material from new installations by 1975. However, existing asbestos materials in thousands of vessels remained in place until requiring maintenance or replacement.[4]
Complete removal of legacy asbestos within the fleet was deemed impractical given the massive nature of the project, so instead, the Navy emphasized containment, encapsulation, and careful management of carcinogenic materials. Comprehensive asbestos management protocols were established, so that until contaminated vessels could be retired from service, personnel were required to conduct detailed material surveys, and specialized training in handling and disposal was required for maintenance workers who might encounter asbestos.
Asbestos Integration Throughout the USS Argonaut
The USS Argonaut contained asbestos-containing materials in nearly every compartment and throughout every system. The areas of the vessel that have most frequently been associated with asbestos-related diseases include:
Engine and Machinery Compartments
The submarine’s engine and machinery spaces were where the greatest concentration of asbestos was found. Engine rooms, torpedo compartments, and auxiliary machinery areas featured asbestos insulation protecting equipment and personnel from extreme temperatures. Steam piping, exhaust systems, and mechanical components were covered or coated with asbestos-containing insulation and thermal blankets. Critical valves, essential components in torpedo systems, incorporated asbestos gaskets and packing materials to prevent leaks and ensure system reliability.
Crew Quarters and Work Areas, Electrical and Emergency Systems
Asbestos appeared in deck tiles, bulkhead panels, overhead materials, and paint compositions throughout the submarine’s living quarters and workspaces. Electrical installations depended heavily on asbestos-containing wire insulation, power cables, and electrical box materials. The submarine’s emergency equipment, including fire suppression gear and protective clothing, incorporated asbestos fibers for protection against extreme heat and flames.
Air Circulation Systems
Air circulation systems and ductwork constantly distributed and redistributed microscopic asbestos fibers. These particles were introduced into the atmosphere from routine use, maintenance activities, and from the system’s own insulation and filtering materials. Essential supplies and consumables, including gaskets, valve packing, drain components, and sealing compounds, contained substantial amounts of asbestos, and the submarine’s weapons systems relied on asbestos materials for heat protection and fire resistance in torpedo compartments and associated equipment.
Additional asbestos-containing materials included insulation fabric and felt, adhesive compounds, turbine parts, and boiler insulation. The confined nature of submarine construction meant that asbestos materials were distributed throughout every available space, creating widespread presence across the entire vessel.
Which Argonaut Crew Members Faced the Greatest Asbestos Exposure Risk
Every sailor who served aboard the USS Argonaut was likely to have encountered asbestos on the submarine. Between its ubiquitous presence, the vessel’s extremely restricted spaces, and the limited air circulation systems, its microscopic asbestos particles were essentially unavoidable. Crew members spent extended periods within the vessel’s sealed environment, where the contaminated air was constantly recirculated without fresh air to dilute it.
While everybody onboard was exposed, certain crew members faced elevated exposure risks due to their responsibilities and duty stations. Engineering personnel, including machinists’ mates, electricians, and torpedo technicians, worked directly with heavily insulated machinery and in the areas that contained the highest concentrations of asbestos materials. These sailors routinely performed maintenance and repair duties involving cutting, grinding, or removing asbestos-containing insulation, gaskets, and other components.
Electronics technicians, power plant operators, and submarine system supervisors encountered asbestos during equipment servicing and system repairs. Their duties often involved disturbing asbestos-containing materials in electrical systems, power distribution, and control equipment. Personnel responsible for removing asbestos insulation during maintenance procedures faced particularly elevated exposure levels.
Torpedo compartment personnel and weapons specialists worked in areas where asbestos materials were fundamental to equipment operation and safety systems. Their maintenance responsibilities often involved servicing pumps, valves, and other components containing asbestos materials.
Even crew members not directly involved in maintenance or repair duties faced exposure risks through contamination of their shipmates’ uniforms, the shared air circulation system, and the presence of asbestos materials in general living and working areas. The submarine’s tight spaces meant that asbestos particles disturbed in one location could continuously spread throughout the entire vessel, potentially affecting all personnel aboard. Additionally, shipyard workers involved in any of the vessel’s shipyard-based upgrades and maintenance periods were exposed to the material when removing, repairing, and replacing asbestos-containing components.
Asbestos Health Risks
Asbestos presents serious health dangers that remain dormant for decades before developing into one of the diseases associated with exposure. When asbestos’s microscopic particles are inhaled or swallowed and become permanently embedded in the cells of internal organs, they can trigger inflammatory responses and cellular damage, eventually leading to cancer and other life-threatening conditions.
Mesothelioma constitutes the most severe asbestos-related illness. This rare and aggressive malignancy is almost entirely attributed to asbestos exposure and proves invariably fatal, with most patients surviving only 12 to 21 months following diagnosis. The disease attacks the thin membrane surrounding the lungs, heart, or abdomen and typically emerges 20 to 50 years after initial exposure. Mesothelioma symptoms can vary, but include chest pain, breathing difficulties, persistent cough, and abdominal swelling.
Asbestos exposure also dramatically increases lung cancer risk, particularly for exposed individuals who also smoked tobacco products. Asbestos-related lung cancer may not appear for 15 to 35 years after exposure and often manifests with symptoms resembling other lung cancer forms, including persistent cough, chest pain, and breathing difficulties. The combination of asbestos exposure and smoking dramatically multiplies the risk of developing both lung cancer and pleural mesothelioma.
Asbestosis is a non-malignant but serious lung condition caused by inhaling asbestos particles. The inflammation triggered by these particles results in lung tissue scarring, leading to progressively deteriorating breathing difficulties, persistent cough, and significant chest pain. Severe cases can advance to respiratory failure and death.
Additional asbestos-related conditions include pleural plaques, pleural effusions, and diffuse pleural thickening. While these conditions are not typically life-threatening, they all impact the lung lining and can cause breathing difficulties and chest pain, significantly affecting quality of life. Additionally, these conditions often serve as warning signs of more serious asbestos-related diseases.
Legal Recourse for USS Argonaut Veterans
Multiple Navy veterans who served aboard the USS Argonaut have received diagnoses of asbestos-related diseases, including asbestosis and asbestos-related lung cancer. If you served aboard the USS Argonaut and have also been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, you have several options for both compensation and specialized medical treatment. Legal precedent and the government’s acknowledgment of asbestos presence aboard Navy submarines have established clear paths for veterans who’ve been harmed to pursue justice.
VA Benefits
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers comprehensive benefits for veterans with service-connected asbestos-related diseases. Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis can file claims for disability compensation, specialized medical treatment, and additional benefits for their families. The VA recognizes mesothelioma as a service-connected condition for veterans exposed during their service, which expedites the claims process for those affected, and mesothelioma’s classification as 100% disabling provides maximum compensation.
Civil Lawsuits
Beyond VA benefits, veterans may pursue legal action against the manufacturers and suppliers of asbestos-containing products used aboard their vessels. While veterans cannot sue the Navy or the government, they can sue those companies. Successful litigation can result in substantial out-of-court settlements or jury awards to compensate for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. Thousands of cases have been successfully resolved against companies that produced insulation, gaskets, valves, pumps, and other asbestos-containing materials found aboard submarines like the USS Argonaut.
Asbestos Compensation Funds
Asbestos trust funds represent another significant source of compensation for affected veterans. Many companies that manufactured asbestos products were required to establish these funds during bankruptcy proceedings, while others have created funds voluntarily. Created specifically to compensate victims of asbestos-related diseases, these trusts have paid billions of dollars in claims and provide an alternative to lengthy litigation processes.
Seeking Legal Assistance
Veterans diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases should consult with an experienced asbestos attorney who specializes in military and occupational exposure cases. These knowledgeable legal professionals understand the unique challenges of documenting naval service and workplace exposure: They will help identify all potentially responsible parties and available compensation sources, coordinate legal strategies, and assist with filing VA claims. Their goal is to minimize the burden on affected veterans and their families while maximizing the compensation they receive.
Time limitations apply to many legal claims, making it important for affected veterans to seek legal assistance as soon as possible after diagnosis. Doing so allows your mesothelioma attorney to begin gathering service records, medical documentation, and other evidence necessary to build a strong case. With proper legal representation, veterans sickened after having served aboard the USS Argonaut can access the benefits and compensation they deserve.
References
View All References
