The USS Hammerhead (SS-364) was one of 237 U.S. submarines that were mass-produced in response to Japanese aggression in World War II. Collectively, these vessels destroyed much of the Japanese merchant marine and a large portion of the Imperial Japanese Navy.[”1”] Though noted for her combat performance and underwater missions, the submarine contained hazardous asbestos materials that posed severe health threats, leaving her crew members and shipyard workers who worked on her at risk for mesothelioma and additional life-threatening conditions.
Gato-Class Design Submarines
The USS Hammerhead (SS-364) was one of the 77 renowned Gato-class submarine fleet. Constructed throughout World War II and serving as the foundation of America’s underwater naval force, these submarines represented a revolutionary leap forward in underwater vessel engineering, delivering enhanced operational range, superior dependability, and increased combat capability compared to previous submarine designs. The Gato-class vessels were engineered specifically for extensive Pacific Ocean missions. They incorporated generous fuel storage capacity and improved crew accommodations for the extended shipboard time these deployments required.[1]
The Gato class was noted for its cutting-edge welding methods and the construction techniques that ensured dependable performance under harsh operational conditions. However, their “thin-skinned” hull construction gave them a much shallower depth tolerance than the submarines that were designed later: Their standard operational diving was confined to roughly 300 feet below the surface level.
About The USS Hammerhead (SS-364)
In keeping with the Navy’s tradition of naming submarines after marine life, the USS Hammerhead was named for the distinctive shark known for their unique, T-shaped head. The Hammerhead was built at the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, a shipyard that would later be referenced in numerous asbestos lawsuits. The vessel was launched in October 1943. With Mrs. R. W. Berry serving as sponsor, the vessel was commissioned in March 1944 under Commander J. C. Martin’s leadership.[2]
The Hammerhead’s Specifications
Originally ordered as a Balao-class submarine, the Hammerhead was ultimately constructed as a Gato-class vessel when the shipyard was not prepared to begin Balao-class construction following completion of their previous contract. The submarine measured 311 feet 9 inches in overall length, with a beam spanning 27 feet 3 inches and a draft of 15 feet 3 inches. Displacing 1,526 tons on the surface, she accommodated a crew of 60 officers and enlisted personnel and achieved maximum speeds of 20 knots. The submarine carried the armament that was standard to the Gato class, including torpedo tubes and deck guns consistent with the Navy’s specifications.
Operational Service
Following training exercises in Lake Michigan, the Hammerhead was transported via floating drydock down the Mississippi River to New Orleans in April 1944. She then traveled to the Panama Canal Zone for additional preparation before proceeding to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
The Hammerhead’s initial combat deployment came in June 1944, when she was assigned to operate alongside the submarines Steelhead and Parche in the waters south of Formosa. Her first combat engagement occurred when she destroyed a sampan using deck gun fire. Later that month, she encountered a coastal oiler, but torpedo malfunctions during the attack forced her to submerge when enemy aircraft appeared. The following day, she was more successful, attacking convoy vessels before returning to Fremantle, Australia, in August 1944.
The Hammerhead left Fremantle in September to operate in the Java and South China Seas. On the night of October 1st, she detected a large convoy consisting of four cargo vessels, one oiler, and three escort ships off the coast of Borneo. Her crew launched ten torpedoes with remarkable accuracy, achieving six hits and destroying three cargo ships. Later that month, another six-ship convoy met a similar fate, with two more cargo vessels sunk by a six-torpedo spread from the Hammerhead. This highly effective patrol earned the submarine a Navy Unit Commendation for exceptional performance.
Subsequent Combat Operations
The Hammerhead’s third patrol lasted from November 1944 to January 1945, taking her back to the South China Sea along with the submarines Lapon and Paddle. Despite multiple attempts, the U.S. vessels failed to sink any enemy vessels during this deployment. But during her fourth patrol in February 1945, she was operating with the submarine Baya off Cape Varella when her crew spotted a convoy with escorts. After putting herself into a perfect firing position, she launched four torpedoes that successfully destroyed the Japanese frigate Yaku. The Hammerhead’s patrol ended early due to her commanding officer becoming ill, and the submarine arrived at Subic Bay in early March.
The Hammerhead’s next patrol lasted from March to April 1945. Assigned to the Indochina coast, she encountered a large escorted convoy and penetrated its protective screen to get a clear shot at an escort vessel. The Hammerhead broke the escort in two with a single torpedo hit, then damaged additional convoy members before withdrawing.
Final Patrol Achievements
For the Hammerhead’s sixth patrol, she was deployed to the Gulf of Siam beginning in May 1945. Shortly after arrival, she engaged a small tanker with two escorts. She initially missed the boat at long range, but successfully sank the tanker in a follow-up attack. Later that month, she encountered a cargo carrier with only aircraft escort and executed a flawless approach that resulted in destroying the vessel with two torpedoes.
Her seventh and final combat patrol lasted from June to August 1945, when she returned to the Gulf of Siam along with three other submarines. The patrol’s major engagement occurred in July when she successfully destroyed the cargo ships Sakura Maru and Nanmei Maru No. 5. She then sailed to Pearl Harbor.
The USS Hammerhead earned seven battle stars and a Navy Unit Commendation for her World War II service, with all seven war patrols classified as successful operations.
Post-War Service and Final Years
In August 1945, the USS Hammerhead sailed to Mare Island, California, to be decommissioned. The official decommissioning didn’t take place until February 1946, at which time she was entered into the Fleet Reserve. In February 1952, she was returned to active service for the Korean Conflict and conducted training operations along the West Coast between San Diego and San Francisco until August 1953.
Designated for transfer under the Military Assistance Program, the submarine was briefly recommissioned in July 1954 to be prepared, then decommissioned again and transferred to the Turkish Navy in October 1954. She served Turkey as the Cerbe (S-341) until returning to U.S. Navy control and being stricken from the Navy List in January 1972.
The Navy’s Use of Asbestos
Throughout the wartime and for decades beyond, the U.S. Navy was unaware of asbestos’s dangerous properties. Military specifications required that the mineral be incorporated in all its vessels because it so thoroughly met the challenges imposed by both the maritime environment challenges and combat hazards. Naval engineers prioritized protection of their vessels against ocean corrosion, fire dangers from fuel systems, ammunition storage risks, complex machinery operations, and enemy-inflicted damage. It wasn’t until the mid-1970s, when public awareness of the mineral’s hazards began to be publicized, that the military stopped using the substance. Asbestos was included in hundreds of shipboard materials and systems throughout all naval vessels for decades.
Submarine-Specific Asbestos Hazards
The unique operational requirements and physical environment of submarines created even more reasons for the Navy to choose asbestos-containing materials. Unfortunately, those same factors also amplified the exposure dangers for submarine personnel.
Restricted Environment: Despite the Gato-class submarines’ increase in size, the Hammerhead and her sister vessels were still designed with compact layouts that made fire prevention and temperature control critically important. This necessity led to extensive use of asbestos-based protective materials throughout the vessel.
Air Circulation Systems: Submarine ventilation systems constantly recirculate air within the vessels’ sealed environments. This extended the amount of time that airborne asbestos particles could be inhaled by crew members.
Weapons Storage Areas: Submarine torpedo compartments were infused with asbestos-containing materials in their sealing systems, insulation applications, and safety equipment.
Sound Suppression: Submarines in the Gato-class were tasked with going ahead of the main force to gather intelligence, report on what they’d seen, and then attack to diminish enemy numbers. This mission required stealth and depended on noise reduction technologies. Much of this sound dampening was accomplished through the increased application of asbestos insulation materials.
Medical Risks and Health Consequences of Asbestos Exposure
Although asbestos poses no immediate danger when it’s contained and undisturbed, it deteriorates easily when it’s manipulated or damaged. Deadly health hazards arise when loose fibers become airborne and are inhaled or ingested into the respiratory or digestive system. This typically happens when asbestos-containing materials are:
• Damaged during standard maintenance procedures or emergency repairs
• Weakened by operational vibration, impact, or natural deterioration
• Disturbed by cutting, drilling, or similar activities
• Degraded due to environmental factors or aging
The connection between asbestos exposure and several serious and fatal health conditions is well established. The most dangerous of these is mesothelioma, an extremely aggressive and lethal cancer affecting the protective lining surrounding the lungs, abdominal cavity, and heart. Diagnosed in roughly 3,500 Americans annually, it is almost entirely caused by asbestos exposure.
Mesothelioma is extremely resistant to traditional cancer treatment, and this challenge is compounded by the fact that symptoms don’t emerge until 20 to 50 years after exposure. Its symptoms closely resemble less serious conditions like influenza or bronchitis, and this frequently delays correct diagnosis and treatment, allowing its tumors to continue growing and becoming more difficult to treat. The most common form of the disease affects the chest cavity (pleural mesothelioma), though some experience abdominal involvement (peritoneal mesothelioma). It may also occur in the heart cavity (pericardial mesothelioma), though this is exceptionally rare.
In addition to mesothelioma, Navy veterans exposed to asbestos on the USS Hammerhead are at risk for:
- Lung Cancer: While typically linked to cigarette smoking, asbestos exposure dramatically increases the risk of lung cancer among those who smoked.
- Asbestosis: Progressive, chronic lung tissue scarring that comes from inhaling asbestos fibers. Asbestosis victims typically experience breathing difficulties and reduced pulmonary function.
- Other Cancers: Malignancies affecting the throat, reproductive system, and other organs are also a risk.
Support for USS Hammerhead Veterans Diagnosed with Mesothelioma
If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, your priority should always be taking care of yourself and your family. After you and your medical team have agreed to a treatment plan, there are several options for support and compensation that can make a real difference in your journey.
Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits
The Department of Veterans Affairs provides comprehensive support for service members who have developed illnesses from asbestos exposure during military service. Available benefits include:
Disability Compensation: Service members who develop health conditions linked to military asbestos exposure can qualify for monthly compensation payments determined by the rating assigned to their illness.
Healthcare Services: The VA health system delivers specialized medical care for veterans, including expert treatment for asbestos-related diseases at its own facilities and support for those seeking treatment at other specialized cancer centers around the country.
Family Support Programs: The VA offers eligible veterans and their families access to comprehensive assistance services, including counseling programs and home healthcare support.
To qualify for these benefits, veterans need to go through a rigorous claims process to establish a connection between their asbestos-related condition and their military service. Required documentation includes:
• Medical evidence confirming an asbestos-related diagnosis
• Documentation of asbestos exposure during military service
• Medical professional assessment linking the condition to military exposure
Legal Options
Veterans who served aboard the USS Hammerhead and have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease have compensation options beyond VA-provided benefits. Legal opportunities include:
Personal Injury Lawsuits: Veterans may be able to pursue civil litigation against manufacturers and suppliers of asbestos-containing products and equipment used in naval vessels. These lawsuits target companies rather than the government, which is protected from liability beyond providing VA services and benefits. Families of veterans who have died from asbestos-related diseases may also pursue wrongful death claims. Personal injury lawsuits and wrongful death claims are often resolved through out-of-court settlements that allow victims and the asbestos companies to avoid jury trials.
Asbestos Trust Funds: Numerous asbestos product manufacturers have established victim compensation trusts. These funds are often the result of bankruptcy settlements and negotiations, though some companies have voluntarily created these compensation programs.
Contact an Asbestos Attorney
The best way for Navy veterans to learn more about these options is to contact an experienced asbestos attorney who can explain all the compensation options and legal procedures that apply to your situation. These knowledgeable legal professionals specialize in working with people with asbestos claims. They can answer your questions, gather information specific to your service so they can identify all potential exposure sources and responsible parties, and provide comprehensive assistance and representation throughout the claim process.
Essential information that mesothelioma attorneys use to develop a strong case includes:
• Ship assignments and service dates
• Detailed job duties, responsibilities, and work locations
• Any maintenance, repair, or construction work performed or observed
• Testimony from fellow service members
• Complete medical records documenting diagnosis and treatment history
A mesothelioma diagnosis is shattering, and it’s normal to want to take some time to process the news, but beginning the legal process promptly is crucial to preserving your legal rights. Each state maintains time restrictions called statutes of limitations. These mandated timeframes impact how long you have to file a claim. A mesothelioma lawyer can explain all of this, provide details about the process, help you set realistic expectations, and ensure minimal burden on you and your family while working to maximize the compensation you receive.
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