Naval Submarine Base New London, in Groton, Connecticut, was once a submarine and shipbuilding base. Like most other shipyards in the past, it relied on asbestos when constructing and repairing vessels. This asbestos put many workers and veterans at risk of developing fatal diseases.
History of Naval Submarine Base New London
Known as the Navy’s first submarine base, Naval Submarine Base New London began in 1868 as a small depot and naval yard. Connecticut gave the land to the U.S. Navy to build a naval station. In 1898, the Navy built a coating station to refuel small ships.[1]
It wasn’t until 1916 that the naval yard became a submarine base. At the time, it was called the New London Submarine Flotilla and Submarine School.[2]
World War I
Over the following years, the base increased in size. Several submarines arrived at the base in 1915, including the G-1, G-2, and G-4; submarines E-1, D-1, and D-3; tender USS Tonopah; and tender USS Ozark.
Once World War I began, the base grew substantially after Congress approved a $1 million grant for expansion. The money also helped build a hospital, workshops, training facilities, and many other buildings that assisted the base and its workers. The land was also expanded around this time.
By the end of World War I, over eighty buildings housed over 1,000 service people and around twenty submarines. When the Great Depression hit the United States, President Franklin D. Roosevelt created many employment programs to help out the workers on the base via the Federal Government employment programs.
World War II and the Post-War Years
Land expanded once again during World War II, when it grew from around 112 acres to nearly 500 acres. After the war, however, the submarine force shrunk in size, and most of the submarines were placed in storage. Other vessels were sold for scrap metal, while some were modified for better use.
During its peak, Naval Submarine Base New London launched the USS Nautilus in 1954. This was considered one of the shipyard’s most significant accomplishments, as it was the first nuclear-powered vessel ever built.
The Submarine Escape Training Tank, otherwise known as the “Dive Tower,” was built around 1930. The 100-foot-tall structure eventually became one of the base’s most prominent landscapes. Year after year, submariners went through practice escape activities via sunken submarines under the Dive Tower.
Naval Submarine Base New London Today
The shipyard eventually shut down permanently in 2005, but in a later reverse decision, it reopened. Naval Submarine Base New London is now a submariners’ training center. It also houses a museum, the Submarine Force Library, and more.
The Base today is situated on the Thames River and has 11 piers for submarines, 70 tenant commands, and about 9,500 workers. The latter include both civilian and reserve personnel. The base also has 1,500 family housing units.[2]
How Was Asbestos Used at the New London Naval Base?
The shipyard used asbestos in many products, harming workers. With Naval Submarine Base New London, piping was the biggest issue.
Although the shipyard’s use of asbestos in Navy vessels dates back to the 1920s, it only came under investigation in 1982. This occurred after inspectors found excessive amounts of asbestos in faulty piping, namely in the Industrial Hygiene Branch.
The branch eventually underwent renovations, but the asbestos issues at the shipyard became more apparent. While workers renovated the branch, asbestos fibers permeated the air, while a leaking roof resulted in more toxic fibers breaking free.
Upon further inspection, investigators found asbestos everywhere. Not only were all the buildings, including the hospital and training schools, littered with it, but inspectors also found asbestos in walls, ceilings, shipbuilding areas, coils and pipes, insulation, and the training camp areas.
In 2009, the base began a total abatement project on another facility, Building 448, to remove asbestos.[3] By then, however, employees and contractors had already spent decades breathing in the toxic fibers.
How Were Naval Submarine Base New London Workers Affected by Exposure?
Malignant mesothelioma, cancer caused by asbestos exposure, is the primary illness associated with it. What makes mesothelioma even more damaging is that the symptoms can hide for up to fifty years before surfacing. By then, people are usually in the late stages of the disease, making it much more challenging to treat.
Other illnesses associated with asbestos exposure include asbestosis and asbestos-related lung cancer.
The Navy knew asbestos was dangerous, as referenced by numerous reports issued by Navy medical officers that warned against asbestos exposure dating back to the 1940s.
Most of the manufacturers that shipped asbestos products to shipyards across the nation also knew that asbestos could be fatal. Yet, profits were sky-high, so manufacturers ignored the warning signs.
Naval Submarine Base New London Designated Superfund Site
Naval Submarine Base New London is a Superfund site, a designation made by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that indicates a site needs major cleanup.
The EPA has found that the Base contaminated groundwater, soil, and sediment over many decades. The contaminants include many toxic substances, from pesticides to battery acid and asbestos. The Base buried many contaminants in a landfill, but because it was located near wetlands, they leaked into the groundwater.
In addition to the landfill, the EPA found spills and containers that leaked contaminants. This included 40 gallons of oil contaminated with PCPs.[4] Clean-up efforts are ongoing at the site.
What to Do if You Were Exposed to Asbestos at New London
If you worked at the Base at New London, you could have been exposed to asbestos. Talk to your doctor about screening for cancer and respiratory conditions. The earlier you get a diagnosis, the better the outcome will be.
If you receive a diagnosis of an asbestos illness, talk to a mesothelioma lawyer in Connecticut. They can evaluate your case for free and determine if you are eligible for compensation.
You might be able to file a lawsuit against the companies that supplied the Base with asbestos. If those companies went through bankruptcy, you could be eligible for an asbestos trust fund claim and compensation.
Talk to a lawyer or asbestos law firm as soon as possible. There is a statute of limitations on asbestos lawsuits. Don’t miss your chance to get justice.
