The USS Ethan Allen (SSBN-608) was a nuclear-powered fleet ballistic missile submarine that served the United States Navy from 1961 to 1983. The first of the Ethan Allen class, she represented a significant advancement in submarine warfare technology and played a crucial role in America’s nuclear deterrent strategy during the Cold War.[1] Because the Ethan Allen was built when asbestos was widely used in shipbuilding, her crew members were exposed to dangerous fibers that put them at risk of mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other serious health conditions.
About the USS Ethan Allen and the Ethan Allen-Class Submarines
The USS Ethan Allen was named after the Revolutionary War hero Ethan Allen, who was best known for leading the “Green Mountain Boys” militia and his role in capturing Fort Ticonderoga in 1775, alongside Benedict Arnold’s Massachusetts force. The submarine was the second Navy vessel to bear his name, honoring his contributions to Vermont’s statehood and American independence.[1]
The Ethan Allen-class submarines marked a significant step forward in naval engineering. They were the first fleet ballistic missile submarines designed specifically for launching ballistic missiles. Unlike their predecessors, the George Washington-class submarines, whose hulls were retrofitted to accommodate missiles, the Ethan Allen-class incorporated the purpose-built missile compartments and systems that defined Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarines (FBMs) for decades.[2]
The Ethan Allen-class submarines were propelled by a single S5W pressurized water nuclear reactor manufactured by Westinghouse that generated 15,000 horsepower, driving turbines connected to a seven-blade propeller. The vessels were capable of speeds exceeding 21 knots when surfaced and 16 knots submerged. Their primary armament consisted of sixteen air ejection tubes for Polaris missiles and four 21-inch torpedo tubes positioned in the bow for defensive purposes. They incorporated advanced sonar systems and the MK 80 missile fire control system for launching missiles.[2]
Measuring 410 feet 5 inches in length, the Ethan Allen-class submarines had a beam of 33 feet and displaced 6,900 tons while surfaced and 7,900 tons while submerged. They featured a deep-diving hull constructed of HY-80 steel and incorporating design elements from the Thresher-class attack submarines, including machinery quieting features that incorporated asbestos, as well as improved crew accommodations. Each vessel carried a complement of 136 men—12 officers and 124 enlisted personnel—operating in the confined conditions typical of submarine service.
The USS Ethan Allen’s Construction and Service History
The contract to build the USS Ethan Allen was authorized by President Eisenhower in late 1958, after he’d withheld funding earlier. Construction began at the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut. Her keel was laid down in September 1959, and she was launched in November 1960, then commissioned in August 1961, under the command of Captain Paul L. Lacy, Jr. (Blue Crew) and Captain W. W. Behrens, Jr. (Gold Crew).[3]
Early Operations and Historic Achievement
The Ethan Allen’s early service was dedicated to advancing submarine warfare. In October 1961, she became the first submarine to successfully launch the improved Polaris A-2 missile while submerged, demonstrating the 1,800-mile range capability of this second-generation ballistic missile.
The submarine took her place in history in May 1962, when she participated in Operation Frigate Bird as part of Joint Task Force 8. At exactly 14:17:49 PDT near Christmas Island in the Pacific, the Ethan Allen launched a live Polaris A-1 missile equipped with a nuclear warhead—the first and only complete U.S. test of a strategic ballistic missile that included nuclear detonation. The test was a complete success, with the missile hitting “right in the pickle barrel,” while the USS Carbonero and USS Medregal, positioned 30 miles away, conducted measurements of the detonation at 11,000 feet above the South Pacific.[2]
Operational Deployments
Following her historic nuclear test, the Ethan Allen returned to the East Coast and was rearmed with Polaris A-2 missiles. She was then deployed to her first operational deterrent patrol in June 1962. Throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, she conducted strategic patrols in the North Atlantic, operating from Holy Loch, Scotland, alongside other submarines in her class.
Between 1965 and 1966, the Ethan Allen underwent significant upgrades, receiving the more advanced Polaris A-3 missiles with their extended 2,500-mile range, along with an improved gas generator/steam ejection launch system and the upgraded Mk 84 fire control system. These modifications enhanced her strategic capabilities and extended her operational effectiveness, but also exposed the shipyard workers performing the work to significant amounts of asbestos.
In the mid-1970s, as newer Poseidon missile-equipped submarines entered service, the Ethan Allen-class vessels were reassigned to Pacific operations. The Ethan Allen was rearmed with the Polaris A-3T missile in October 1972 and completed her transition to the Pacific fleet in August 1973, joining the George Washington-class submarines at the Guam submarine base. She began her first patrol with this advanced weapon system on August 29, 1974.
Conversion and Final Years
By 1980, the Ethan Allen and her sister ships were approaching the limits of their structural and nuclear reactor lifespans. With the introduction of the Ohio-class submarines and compliance requirements under the SALT II treaty, the decision was made to convert them to attack submarines. In September 1980, the ship’s missile tubes were decommissioned and missile fire control systems removed, and she was redesignated as SSN-608.
The Ethan Allen was decommissioned in March 1983 and struck from the Navy list in April, making her the first of her class to retire. She spent the following years at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, awaiting disposal through the Navy’s Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program. Her recycling was completed in July 1999, with portions of her hull containing nuclear reactor components preserved at Hanford, Washington.[1]
Legacy and Cultural Impact
The USS Ethan Allen’s historical significance extends beyond her naval service. She was featured in Tom Clancy’s novel “The Hunt for Red October” (1984), where she appears as a decoy submarine destroyed to convince the Soviet Navy that the fictional Red October had been eliminated.[3]
Asbestos Contamination on Navy Submarines
Throughout the early and mid-1900s, the United States Navy required that asbestos be used throughout its submarines. Though the risks associated with the material are well known today, at that time the information had not been shared with the military, and its long-standing reliance on the mineral only intensified in response to rising Cold War tensions. America felt compelled to design and construct vessels that could challenge Soviet naval power, and military leadership valued asbestos for its recognized fire prevention capabilities, insulation against heat, and resistance to chemical deterioration in harsh ocean conditions.
These positive characteristics of asbestos were especially critical for nuclear-powered submarines, where mechanical breakdowns and fire could prove catastrophic. The material also had the advantage of being inexpensive and extremely flexible, which made it suitable for applications within tight submarine spaces, including wrapping pipes, sealing components, wiring systems, and making surfaces flame-retardant.
Additionally, any upgrades, including the extensive work done on the USS Ethan Allen and others in her class, continued the Navy’s integration of asbestos across submarines, warships, cruisers, and carriers. It continued until the mid-1970s, when researchers conclusively proved the connection between the substance and severe lung ailments and cancers.
Policy Changes and Challenges
By 1973, the Navy introduced restrictions on the use of asbestos for its new builds and major renovations, essentially eliminating the material from fresh installations by 1975. However, existing materials that had been installed earlier remained in countless vessels until maintenance necessitated removal—sometimes this never occurred at all.[4]
To address the problem of pre-existing asbestos in place throughout its fleet, the Navy conducted a study that concluded that the massive logistical difficulties of entirely eliminating asbestos were beyond its budget or abilities. Instead, the military focused on containment strategies and careful oversight until contaminated ships reached retirement. It established a series of management protocols that included material inventories, specialized worker education for maintenance encounters, and rigorous handling and asbestos abatement procedures.
Contaminated Areas Aboard the USS Ethan Allen
Nuclear submarines like the USS Ethan Allen contained asbestos materials so extensively throughout their compact structure that avoiding it was virtually impossible. High-risk zones included:
- Power Plant and Engineering Sections: Reactor areas, propulsion rooms, and mechanical spaces featured dense asbestos concentrations protecting equipment from nuclear-generated heat. Steam lines, cooling networks, and drive components were wrapped and coated with asbestos.
- Command Centers and Crew Areas: Operations zones and living quarters contained asbestos in flooring, wall coverings, ceiling panels, and protective finishes. Electrical networks depended heavily on asbestos-lined cables and control materials.
- Detection and Armament Systems: Advanced sonar equipment and torpedo compartments used asbestos for both sound dampening and temperature control, while weapons storage relied on the material for fire protection.
Positions at the Highest Risk of Asbestos Exposure on the USS Ethan Allen
When it came to asbestos inhalation, nuclear submarines created particularly dangerous environments, as their cramped quarters and recycled air systems concentrated and circulated toxic particles throughout all compartments during maintenance, operations, or standard procedures.
Engineering and maintenance staff faced particularly elevated dangers, including reactor technicians, electrical specialists, and sonar operators who directly handled heavily insulated nuclear systems. These personnel regularly conducted repairs that involved asbestos removal, component cleaning, and equipment replacement.
Even crew members whose roles kept them from direct contact with asbestos-containing materials encountered contamination through shared ventilation, contaminated clothing, and the mineral’s inclusion in common areas.
Health Consequences of Asbestos Exposure
Microscopic asbestos particles, when airborne, become embedded in the body’s respiratory system through inhalation. Though the process often goes undetected, these sharp-edged fibers do tremendous damage as they become lodged in lung tissue and surrounding membranes: Once there, they can trigger inflammation and other cellular changes that can develop into fatal diseases decades later.
Pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma represent the deadliest asbestos-related conditions. Mesothelioma is an aggressive and rare form of cancer that’s caused almost exclusively by asbestos contact. This invariably terminal disease affects the organ that lines important body cavities, and typically emerges 20-50 years post-exposure, with survival averaging 12-21 months. Risks of mesothelioma as well as of lung cancer multiply significantly for exposed individuals, and particularly for smokers, with symptoms of the latter generally appearing 15-35 years later.
Asbestosis creates chronic lung scarring that leads to significant and progressive breathing impairment, while other pleural conditions like effusions, thickening, and plaques cause persistent chest discomfort and respiratory difficulties.
Veterans’ Compensation Options
Former submarine crew members who served onboard the USS Ethan Allen and who have been diagnosed with asbestos diseases have multiple options and avenues for financial recovery and medical support. These include:
Veterans Administration Benefits: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides comprehensive coverage for service-related asbestos conditions. These include disability payments, specialized medical treatment, and benefits for affected family members. Mesothelioma is a condition that has already been established as deserving of a 100% disability rating, which means that once an affected veteran successfully links their service exposure to their illness, they are entitled to maximum compensation.
Personal Injury Lawsuits Against Companies and Corporations: While America’s veterans can’t sue the government, they and their family members have the right to pursue claims for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more against manufacturers and suppliers of asbestos products. These lawsuits accuse defendants of having negligently exposed the veteran to the products that led to their illness. This process has the potential of leading to substantial out-of-court settlements or, if their claim goes to a jury, significant jury verdicts.
Trust Fund Claims: More than 100 asbestos companies – many of them facing overwhelming asbestos liabilities — established compensation funds specifically for individuals affected by their products. More than 60 of those funds continue to exist today, with an estimated $30 billion still available. Though these funds offer less compensation than is generally available through litigation, they do offer a more streamlined, less adversarial claims process.
Contact an Asbestos Attorney Today
To learn more about all of these options, veterans who served on board the USS Ethan Allen and who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases should reach out to an experienced asbestos lawyer as soon as possible. Even those who are uncomfortable with the idea of filing lawsuits will find that these legal professionals can help with the complicated VA filing process. They can also match your service and exposure history to the companies that placed asbestos in your environment, and inform you of any asbestos trusts you’re entitled to submit claims to.
No matter what you decide to do, it’s important to contact these attorneys as soon as possible, as the statute of limitations in place in your state places a strict deadline on how much time you have to act. A mesothelioma attorney will be able to answer all your questions so that you and your family members can make an informed decision about your best path forward.
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