The USS Carronade (IFS-1/LFR-1) was an Inshore Fire Support Ship (IFS) designed to provide naval gunfire support to amphibious landings and other operations close to shore. One of only four IFS vessels built in the 1950s and serving in Vietnam, the ship was valued for its ability to fire thirty spin-stabilized rockets per minute with no crew on deck. Though this feature decreased the risk to crew members, the asbestos that was used extensively within the ship’s structure put them and the shipyard workers who built the vessel at risk for malignant mesothelioma and other serious and deadly diseases.
About the USS Carrondale (IFS-1/LFR-1)
The USS Carronade (IFS-1/LFR-1) was one of four Inshore Fire Support Ships (IFS) built by the Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company in Seattle, Washington, which later became Lockheed Shipping when the Lockheed Aircraft Company bought it in 1959. The shipyard built many naval vessels used during and after World War II, relying extensively on the use of asbestos for its resistance to heat and ire, as well as its affordability and ease of use.
Construction of the ship began in the early 1950s and the ship was launched on May 26, 1953. It was commissioned on May 25, 1955. The ship was designed to replace the LSMR medium landing ships that were used during World War II to provide fire support to troops onshore.[1]
The ship was named for a short-barreled cannon and was itself armed with twin anti-aircraft mounts on its fore and aft, as well as a dual-purpose 5-inch, 38-caliber naval cannon and eight of the mk.105 twin automatic rocket launchers controlled by an electronic fire control computer that outpaced the ones on its predecessor, the Landing Ship Medium (Rockets), in both accuracy and speed. The ship was also equipped with variable-pitch propellers that made it highly maneuverable.[1]
The Carronade was 245’ long with a displacement of 1,500 tons. It was propelled by a twin-screw diesel engine, had a top speed of 15 knots, and a capacity of 162 officers and enlisted men.
During her service in Vietnam, the Carronade was awarded multiple Battle Stars, including the Combat Action Ribbon, the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. The ship was decommissioned in 1970 at Bremerton, Washington, where it was laid up in the Inactive Ship Facility before being struck from the Naval Register in 1973 and sold for scrap in 1994.[1]
The USS Carronade’s Service
The USS Carronade originally sailed out of its home port of San Diego, she began training there until 1956, when she was assigned to operations in Pearl Harbor and then returned to San Diego for local exercises, including a goodwill visit to Vancouver British Columbia, and amphibious exercises to demonstrate her abilities. She conducted local operations and was assigned to several Far Eastern tours of duty before being decommissioned and placed in reserve in 1960.[1]
Carronade was recommissioned in 1965 in support of the war effort in Vietnam. She served as the flagship of Inshore Fire Support Division 93 along with her sister ships, the USS Clarion River, the USS St. Francis River, and the USS White River. Her campaigns included six phases of the Vietnamese Counteroffensive, from Phase I in 1966 to Phase VI in 1968. She also took part in the Tet Counteroffensive in 1968, and the Tet 69 Counteroffensive, and spent the winter/spring of 1970 in Vietnam before being decommissioned.
How Was Asbestos Used on the USS Carronade?
Before the dangers of asbestos became widely known, the mineral was highly valued for its strength, durability, and resistance to heat and fire. These qualities made it a popular material for various applications, particularly within the U.S. military. The military relied heavily on asbestos for the construction of ships, military housing, and other infrastructure. During the buildup to World War II and in the years that followed, the United States undertook massive shipbuilding efforts, including hundreds of Navy vessels. Asbestos suppliers and manufacturers eagerly provided the inexpensive and readily available material to meet the demand for military contracts.
How Was Asbestos Used on the USS Carronade?
The USS Carronade, like most Navy ships built between the 1930s and 1980, was heavily contaminated with asbestos. Insulation containing asbestos was installed throughout the ship’s walls and ceilings, and numerous components, including gaskets, packings, fireproofing materials, and ropes, were made with the carcinogenic substance. Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Co., the company responsible for building the Carronade, was well known for its extensive use of asbestos in ship components, including:
- Boilers
- Gaskets
- Packing
- Insulation
- Pipe coverings
- Pumps
- Turbines
- Fireproofing material
- Flooring
- Adhesives
- Ropes and fabrics
- Fire protection gear
Who Was at Most Risk for Asbestos Exposure Onboard the USS Carronade?
The effects of asbestos exposure on the human body can be highly unpredictable. Some people who experience heavy exposure throughout their lives never develop health issues, while others who’ve only had occasional or secondary exposure to the carcinogen may later be diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, the most fatal of all asbestos-related diseases.
Those who faced the most direct exposure to asbestos in the Carronade’s environment were Navy veterans who worked in the ship’s engine rooms and boiler rooms, as well as shipyard workers who were responsible for constructing, repairing, and maintaining the ship. Since no level of asbestos exposure is considered safe, anyone who spent time on or around the Caronnade was placed at risk.
- Navy veteran David Welch was diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma after having served onboard the USS Carronade. He filed a mesothelioma lawsuit against Crane Company, accusing them of having been negligent in failing to warn of the dangers of asbestos in the products that were included in the ship’s equipment. Though the company argued that the case against them should be dismissed, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington allowed the case to move forward.
Compensation for Those Exposed to Asbestos on the USS Carronade
If you are a Navy veteran who served aboard the USS Carronade (IFS-1/LFR-1 or you were involved in building, repairing, or maintaining the ship, it is likely that you were exposed to asbestos. Even if you are currently in good health, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the symptoms of malignant mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses and that you inform your physician or healthcare provider about your history of asbestos exposure. Making sure that they are aware of the risk you face will encourage them to monitor your health more closely and will help them make a timely diagnosis should symptoms arise.
If you’ve been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness such as malignant mesothelioma, you may qualify for benefits through the Veterans Administration (VA). The VA provides several forms of support and compensation for disabled Navy veterans, including:
- Access to Specialized Medical Care: Veterans with asbestos-related conditions can receive free treatment at VA medical centers, including those specializing in mesothelioma care. Approval may also be granted for treatment at non-VA specialty centers.
- Disability Compensation: Malignant mesothelioma is assigned a 100% disability rating by the VA. Veterans who can demonstrate that their asbestos exposure occurred during military service are eligible for maximum disability compensation.
An experienced asbestos attorney can help you with the complex applications that need to be filled out for VA benefits. They can also advise you about pursuing additional compensation through civil litigation. While veterans can’t sue the U.S. government for the harms they suffered due to asbestos exposure, they can hold the asbestos manufacturers who were aware of the mineral’s dangers accountable. Many courts have punished these companies financially for having prioritized profits over people’s safety and have awarded victims and their survivors millions of dollars in compensation.
Filing a personal injury lawsuit against these companies often results in substantial settlements before going to trial. You might also be eligible to file claims against asbestos trust funds set up by companies that declared bankruptcy due to overwhelming asbestos liabilities.
For more information about the legal process and assistance in seeking compensation for your illness, contact an experienced mesothelioma attorney today.
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