The USS Sarsfield (DD-837) was a Gearing-class destroyer that served the United States Navy from 1945 to 1977, three decades that spanned Cold War tensions, the Korean War, global conflicts, and the Vietnam War. Unfortunately, like all other Navy vessels built during that time, the Sarsfield contained significant amounts of asbestos that put the crew members aboard the vessel at risk of devastating health consequences, including mesothelioma and lung cancer.
About the USS Sarsfield
The Ship’s Namesake
The USS Sarsfield’s name honored the courage and sacrifice of Lieutenant Commander Eugene S. Sarsfield. Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1902, Sarsfield entered the Naval Academy in 1922 and graduated as an Ensign in 1926. His early career included assignments aboard Nevada (BB-36), New York (BB-34), and Hannibal (AG-1) before he underwent specialized submarine and torpedo training. Named executive officer and navigator of the USS Kearny (DD-432) in 1940 and earned a commendation from the Secretary of the Navy for his leadership when it was torpedoed by a German U-boat in 1941.[1]
Assigned command of the USS McCormick (DD-223) in 1941 and the newly commissioned USS Maddox (DD-622) in 1942, he was awarded the Legion of Merit for swift decision-making on those vessels. Tragically, Lieutenant Commander Sarsfield was killed during the invasion of Sicily in July 1943. H remained at his post after the Maddox had sustained critical damage under intense aerial bombardment, staying aboard to supervise the sinking ship’s evacuation. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for having helped save 74 of the 284 men aboard.
A Gearing-Class Destroyer
The USS Sarsfield was one of 98 Gearing-class destroyers built in the years between 1944 and 1946. The warships, which became the blueprint for postwar destroyer construction and operations, featured sophisticated propulsion plants that demanded insulation throughout the structure that held them and the equipment itself. For boilers, turbines, and associated machinery that needed to withstand extreme operational temperatures and mechanical stresses, asbestos was the best choice due to its superior heat resistance, durability, and flame-retardant characteristics. The mineral was ubiquitous in naval construction, especially in high-temperature areas.[2]
Gearing-class destroyers, including the USS Sarsfield, measured 390 feet 6 inches overall, with a 40-foot 10-inch beam and an 18-foot 6-inch draft. They featured General Electric geared steam turbines paired with four Babcock and Wilcoxboilers. The asbestos that insulated this equipment has been identified as a primary factor in asbestos-related illnesses among the thousands of Navy veterans who served aboard the destroyers.
With full displacement reaching approximately 3,460 tons, the Gearing-class ships accommodated crews of 367 officers and enlisted personnel. Their propulsion systems generated 60,000 shaft horsepower driving twin screws, enabling maximum speeds of 35 knots and operational ranges of 4,500 nautical miles at economical cruising speeds.
Service Record of the USS Sarsfield
Construction and Commissioning
Construction of the USS Sarsfield began in January 1945 at Bath Iron Works. The vessel was launched in May 1945 with Mrs. Eugene S. Sarsfield serving as sponsor in honor of her late husband. After fitting-out procedures were completed, the ship was commissioned at Boston Naval Shipyard in July 1945 under the command of Commander Hepburn A. Pierce.[1]
Immediately after her commissioning, the Sarsfield left for shakedown training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in late August 1945. She returned to Boston for post-shakedown modifications, participated in the Navy Day celebration in New York, then left for training exercises in the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia Capes region through December. She then entered the Brooklyn Navy Yard for the installation of experimental equipment.
Operational Development and Testing
In February 1946, the Sarsfield relocated to Key West, Florida, to join the Operational Development Force. As part of the Surface Antisubmarine Development Detachment, Atlantic Fleet, she was instrumental in testing and evaluating revolutionary weapons systems and equipment while simultaneously conducting regular training exercises throughout the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.
Beyond her primary development responsibilities, the Sarsfield supported the Naval Mine Countermeasures Station at Panama City, Florida, and conducted operations for the Underwater Sound Laboratory at New London, Connecticut, from September 1953 through October 1954. She also operated from Newport, Rhode Island, during the summer of 1955.
Cold War Missions
Throughout the 1950s, the Sarsfield participated in critical anti-submarine warfare demonstrations for distinguished visitors and underwent major overhauls to keep her capabilities at the cutting-edge. She was sent for an overhaul at the Norfolk Navy Yard in 1957, immediately before conducting antisubmarine exercises with Escort Squadron 14 at Charleston in early 1958, and that was immediately followed by plane guard duties with carrier Leyte (CV-32).
The vessel continued its experimental mission after another Charleston Naval Shipyard overhaul in late 1958, testing advanced antisubmarine detection and destruction systems at Key West. This specialized work persisted until January 1961, when tensions in the Caribbean led to her deployment to Guantanamo Bay for shore bombardment duties.
Space Program Support
With the dawn of the space age, the USS Sarsfield and her crew brought an unexpected assignment for Sarsfield and her crew in June 1961: They were assigned to a recovery station role for Project Mercury, America’s pioneering manned spaceflight program. When this mission expanded in January 1962, she was deployed to the African coast for additional Mercury recovery operations.
Fleet Modernization
From August 1962 through June 1963, the Sarsfield underwent an extensive Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) overhaul at Boston Naval Shipyard. The comprehensive modifications she received included the installation of several state-of-the-art systems, including ASROC anti-submarine rockets, the DASH drone helicopter system, advanced long-range radar, and sophisticated sonar equipment. Together, these changes transformed her into an impressive, advanced Cold War combatant. Unfortunately, the removal of old equipment and installation of new included in this extensive project, created additional asbestos exposure risks for both the ship’s crew members and the shipyard workers responsible for the improvements.
Immediately after her FRAM modifications were complete, the ship was sent back to Charleston for the installation of additional weapons and further sonar modifications. This process lasted through 1964, after which she returned to Key West and the Operational Test and Evaluation Detachment for continued development work.
Vietnam War Deployment
In April 1972, the Sarsfield was sent on a dramatically different assignment: combat. She transited the Panama Canal to reach Subic Bay in the Philippines in May, then spent the summer months operating in the Gulf of Tonkin. She initially provided plane guard services for the carrier Saratoga (CV-60), then assumed patrol duties off Hainan Island and participated in shore bombardment missions against enemy positions.
Her combat deployment ended in September, followed by liberty visits to Hong Kong and Yokosuka, Japan, before returning to the United States via San Diego and the Panama Canal. She reached Mayport, Florida, in October. The USS Sarsfield earned one battle star for her Vietnam service.
Mediterranean Operations
After completing local operations, the Sarsfield was deployed to the Mediterranean in May 1973. When she joined the Sixth Fleet for extended operations, the deployment coincided with the outbreak of the Arab-Israeli War in October. She was immediately redeployed from NATO exercises in northern European waters to the eastern Mediterranean alongside the carrier John F. Kennedy (CVA-67), but after several tense weeks, was sent for a brief respite in Athens, Greece, before returning to Mayport in December 1973.
Challenges and Controversies
The mid-1970s brought both operational successes and significant challenges for the Sarsfield. In June 1974, the ship’s crew experienced racial tensions that culminated in a serious incident: During a difficult mooring evolution at Charleston Naval Station, nearly all the ship’s minority sailors occupied the fantail and refused orders. While most of the demonstrators eventually returned to quarters, seven sailors ultimately faced courts-martial proceedings for their continued resistance to direct orders.
Despite these difficulties, the Sarsfield fulfilled all of her operational commitments, including participating in the NATO Exercise Northern Merger in late 1974 with port visits to Plymouth, England; Edinburgh, Scotland; and Lübeck, West Germany.
Final Deployments
The Sarsfield was assigned a Mediterranean deployment from July 1975 to January 1976 that included port visits throughout Spain, Italy, Sicily, and Greece. The ship also made a historic transit through the Bosporus and Dardanelles for Black Sea operations alongside the USS Belknap.
Her final Mediterranean deployment began during the 1976-1977 winter as part of the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt task force. The vessel’s farewell cruise included providing humanitarian assistance to the flooded city of Trapani, Sicily; spending Christmas at a Greek orphanage in Kalamata; and extensive monitoring operations of Soviet naval activities off Egypt alongside dozens of Russian vessels. Upon returning to the United States, the crew was joined by Taiwanese sailors sent to learn the ship’s operations before she was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in October 1977 and transferred to the Republic of China.
The Hidden Threat of Asbestos
Though the USS Sarsfield’s 32-year operational history was marked by notable achievements, it also included exposing thousands of sailors to lethal asbestos fibers. Constructed when asbestos was considered indispensable for protecting naval vessels and their crews, the destroyer contained the hazardous material in virtually every one of her compartments and systems. Decades later, the service records of veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases make clear that certain areas of the ship subjected crew members to particularly deadly concentrations of asbestos. These included:
- Engine rooms and boiler spaces, where extensive asbestos lagging surrounded steam pipes, turbine housings, and boiler components
- Electrical and fire control spaces, containing asbestos-insulated wiring and equipment panels
- Structural areas, including asbestos-cement deck tiles, bulkhead materials, and fire-resistant coatings
- Ventilation systems, which distributed contaminated particles throughout living and working spaces
- Mechanical components, including gaskets and seals in pumps, valves, and access hatches that released fibers during routine maintenance
USS Sarsfield Crew Members at the Highest Risk
Aboard Gearing-class destroyers like the Sarsfield, machinist’s mates, boiler technicians, and electrician’s mates faced the most severe asbestos exposure due to their daily interaction with contaminated materials in machinery spaces. This was compounded by breathing contaminated air in cramped, poorly ventilated areas, where asbestos particles remained suspended for extended periods after being disturbed. Damage control personnel also faced significant risks while making repairs, especially during the many extensive overhauls and modifications made to the Sarsfield throughout her operational career.
Were You Exposed to Asbestos on the USS Sarsfield?
If they haven’t already, veterans who served on the USS Sarsfield should immediately reach out to their healthcare providers to inform them about potentially being exposed to asbestos during the years they served. Even if you’re feeling fine, there’s a chance that the disease is silently developing inside your body; letting your doctor know that you’re at risk will lead to screening and careful monitoring for any telltale signs. Early detection of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses significantly improves treatment options and outcomes.
Concerning symptoms requiring medical attention include:
- Persistent cough
- Breathing difficulties or wheezing
- Chest pain or discomfort
Essential Resources for Navy Veterans
Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related conditions have access to multiple forms of support and compensation:
Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits
The VA provides comprehensive assistance to veterans suffering from service-connected asbestos-related illnesses. These include:
- Monthly disability compensation
- Specialized medical treatment
- Enhanced benefits for dependents
- Access to specialized mesothelioma treatment centers
Legal Options
Veterans affected by shipboard asbestos may be eligible to pursue legal action against the manufacturers and suppliers of asbestos-containing products used during their service. Years of legal discovery have shown that many of them were well aware of asbestos’s dangers but elected not to warn military personnel or users, prioritizing their own profits over the safety of military personnel and others working with their products. These decisions have resulted in countless veteran deaths and illnesses, and substantial jury awards and settlements for mesothelioma victims.
Contact an Experienced Mesothelioma Lawyer
Experienced mesothelioma attorneys are legal professionals who are dedicated to helping those sickened by negligent exposure to asbestos. They can evaluate your case, advise you of your legal rights and options, and match your exposure history to those responsible, some of whom have set up asbestos trust funds specifically to compensate individuals harmed by their products.
Facing a mesothelioma diagnosis is a shattering experience that forces those affected to make dozens of difficult decisions. An asbestos lawyer is the person best suited to provide compassionate guidance about your options.
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