The USS Albacore (AGSS-569) was an experimental submarine that the United States Navy operated from 1953 to 1972. This unique research vessel, designed to test introductory hull configurations and submarine technologies, was built using asbestos-containing materials throughout her structure, leaving the dozens of sailors, engineers, and technicians who worked on her and served aboard her exposed to dangerous asbestos fibers. Navy veterans who served on the Albacore decades ago faced heightened risks of developing mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and other serious asbestos-related diseases.
About the USS Albacore and Experimental Submarine Development
Based on lessons learned from submarine operations during World War II and in anticipation of future undersea warfare needs, the USS Albacore represented a new approach to submarine design. The vessel was named to perpetuate the legacy of a previous submarine, the Albacore II (SS-21), which was lost during World War II. Albacore III was created to test revolutionary hull configurations built specifically for underwater rather than surface operations.[1]
The Albacore measured 203 feet 10 inches in length, with a beam of 27 feet 4 inches and a draft of 18 feet 7 inches. Her displacement reached 1,242 tons when surfaced and 1,837 tons when submerged. She carried a complement of 36 personnel in her extremely confined quarters and was capable of 25 knots on the surface and over 20 knots submerged. Unlike operational submarines, the Albacore carried no armament, as her mission was purely experimental and oriented around research.
The submarine featured a revolutionary teardrop hull design, which had been developed through extensive hydrodynamic studies at the David Taylor Model Basin, as well as wind tunnel testing at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. The resulting streamlined configuration was specifically engineered to maximize underwater speed and maneuverability and represented a complete departure from traditional submarine design. Its success can be measured by the fact that it became the prototype for all future submarine designs.
Construction and Service History
Construction of the USS Albacore began in March 1952 at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in New Hampshire. She was sponsored by Mrs. J.E. Jowers, widow of Chief Motor Machinist’s Mate Arthur L. Stanton, who had been lost aboard the previous Albacore (SS-218) and launched in August 1953. The vessel was commissioned in December 1953, under the command of Lieutenant Commander Kenneth C. Gummerson.[1]
Following preliminary acceptance trials, the Albacore departed Portsmouth in April 1954 for her initial shakedown training. This was the first of many experiments designed to test specific configurations and then make major modifications to test different design concepts. Based initially out of New London and later Key West, Florida, she conducted operations in Cuban waters before returning to Portsmouth in July 1954, for more than a year of trials in cooperation with the David Taylor Model Basin.
The Albacore underwent her first major modification between December 1955 to March 1956, when she received a completely redesigned stern configuration. Her original propeller, which had been surrounded by rudder and stern plane control surfaces, was repositioned aft of all control surfaces, giving her a distinctive blimp-like appearance. At the same time, she was highlighted through public demonstrations, including being featured on NBC’s “Wide Wide World” program in May 1956. This was the first live television broadcast of a submarine diving.
Throughout the late 1950s, the Albacore continued her experimental mission, undergoing various modifications and tests. In November 1956, she underwent engine conversion, followed by extensive sound reduction evaluations in 1958. This included testing of Aquaplas, a sound-dampening plastic frequently used in combination with asbestos. The material was applied to her superstructure and tank interiors. Her bow planes were removed in October 1958 to further reduce the amount of noise the ship generated.
In 1959, a newly designed 14-foot propeller was installed and tested, and the submarine spent much of 1959 and 1960 conducting tests for the David Taylor Model Basin, including evaluation of a concave bow sonar dome.
The Albacore’s most significant modification began in November 1960, when she underwent a major overhaul and conversion at Portsmouth Naval Yard. The project included installation of an experimental “X”-shaped tail for increased control, 10 dive brakes around her hull, a modified bow with new forward ballast tanks, advanced sonar systems, and a large auxiliary rudder in her sail. It was completed in 1961.
Her fourth major conversion began in December 1962 and included the installation of revolutionary concentric contra-rotating propellers, a high-capacity silver-zinc battery, and a larger main motor. New radio equipment, BQS and BQR sonars, an emergency recovery system, and a new main ballast tank blow system were also added. This work was completed in March 1965.
Following further modifications in 1967, including adjustment of the contra-rotating propeller spacing, the Albacore continued her experimental work through the late 1960s, testing advanced sonar systems and conducting acoustic trials in the Tongue of the Ocean, a deep channel in the Central Bahamas.
In February 1970, the Albacore began preparations for Project SURPASS, a research and development project sponsored by the Naval Ship Research and Development Center. However, after repeated diesel engine failures caused operational delays, the project was cancelled. The submarine was decommissioned in December 1972 and laid up at Philadelphia Naval Yard. Her name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1980, and in April 1984, she was towed back to Portsmouth, where she was dedicated as a memorial on May 3, 1985. She is now located at the Port of Portsmouth Maritime Museum & Albacore Park and was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1989.[”1”]
The Naval Service’s Widespread Asbestos Usage
From the early 1900s onward, the U.S. Navy systematically incorporated asbestos into submarine construction, with this practice intensifying during World War II and continuing through the experimental submarine programs of the 1950s and 1960s.[2] Naval engineers and administration valued asbestos for its notable flame-retardant characteristics, exceptional thermal insulation capabilities, and outstanding resistance to chemical deterioration. These properties were deemed critical for protecting experimental vessels operating in challenging environments, and research submarines were particularly vulnerable to equipment failures and emergencies. The mineral’s adaptable, fibrous composition made it ideal for inclusion in numerous pieces of equipment and structures within the vessel’s tight spaces, from pipe coverings and sealing components to electrical parts and fire-resistant materials.
The USS Albacore was constructed and repeatedly modified during the height of the Navy’s asbestos implementation, when the mineral was found in every aspect of naval construction, whether in submarines, destroyers, cruisers, or aircraft carriers. Despite rising concerns about potential health dangers associated with asbestos exposure, this common, mandated usage continued well into the 1970s, when scientific research that conclusively established the link between asbestos exposure and serious respiratory diseases and cancer was published. By 1973, the Navy began limiting asbestos use in new construction and major vessel overhauls, and by 1975, the service had largely eliminated asbestos from all new installations.
Unfortunately, existing materials in thousands of vessels remained in place for decades. With the exception of highly contaminated areas of Navy ships, most legacy asbestos was left where it was until maintenance necessitated its removal. Though the military conducted detailed surveys of where asbestos materials existed and established specialized training for those who might be exposed to the mineral during normal operations, complete asbestos abatement was determined to be both beyond the Navy’s capabilities and not worth the enormous price tag. The military limited its official response to emphasizing containment and careful management of the hazardous materials until the time that the vessels that contained them were decommissioned.[3]
Asbestos Distribution Throughout the USS Albacore
The USS Albacore contained asbestos-bearing materials in virtually every compartment and system throughout the vessel. Though today we know how dangerous asbestos is, its use was a standard practice of the era, particularly for the military, which required the mineral’s use wherever heat resistance, fire protection, or insulation was needed. As a result, it was present throughout the submarine’s experimental structure.
Engine and Machinery Compartments
The submarine’s propulsion and machinery spaces contained the highest concentrations of asbestos materials. The engine room, battery compartments, and experimental equipment areas were extensively lined with asbestos insulation to protect equipment and personnel from extreme temperatures. Diesel exhaust systems, experimental propulsion components, and machinery were wrapped or coated with asbestos-containing insulation and protective coverings. Critical valves and mechanical connections incorporated asbestos gaskets and packing materials to prevent leaks and maintain system integrity during experimental operations.
Research and Living Spaces, Electrical and Safety Systems
Throughout the submarine’s research laboratories and living spaces, asbestos appeared in flooring materials, wall coverings, ceiling components, and protective coatings. Electrical systems relied heavily on asbestos-containing wire insulation, experimental equipment cables, and control system materials. The submarine’s safety equipment, including fire suppression systems and emergency gear, incorporated asbestos fibers for protection against extreme heat and flames during experimental testing.
Ventilation and Experimental Systems
Air handling systems and cooling ventilation for experimental equipment circulated asbestos particles that were dislodged into the air by routine maintenance, testing, and constant removal and replacement of new parts and equipment. The air ducts had their own insulation and filtration materials, which also contained asbestos. Even experimental components and testing supplies, such as sealing materials, experimental valve packing, and specialized compounds, contained significant amounts of asbestos. The submarine’s unique experimental systems incorporated asbestos materials for thermal protection and fire resistance in testing equipment and research installations.
Personnel at Risk of Asbestos Exposure Aboard the USS Albacore
The Albacore’s crew members and researchers spent extended periods within and around the vessel during experimental operations, and the asbestos particles that continuously circulated throughout and around the submarine significantly increased each person’s risk of developing asbestos-related diseases. The vessel’s extremely confined spaces and limited air circulation systems exacerbated the exposure to microscopic asbestos particles dispersed throughout the submarine’s compartments.
Experimental submarine environments are particularly hazardous because they are completely enclosed: The air within the vessel is constantly recirculated, with no fresh air to reduce the concentration of harmful particles. Engineering personnel, including experimental technicians, electricians, and propulsion specialists, were at particular risk, as they worked directly with the heavily insulated machinery and experimental systems that contained the highest concentrations of the carcinogen, regularly performing maintenance and modifying configurations. These tasks involved cleaning, cutting, grinding, removing, and replacing asbestos-containing insulation, gaskets, and experimental components.
Research technicians, sonar specialists, and experimental equipment operators encountered asbestos during equipment testing and system modifications. Their work frequently involved disturbing asbestos-containing materials in electrical systems, experimental equipment, and control apparatus. Those responsible for removing asbestos insulation during the submarine’s frequent modifications faced particularly high exposure levels.
Even personnel not directly involved in maintenance or experimental work faced exposure risks through contaminated clothing, the shared ventilation system, and the presence of asbestos materials in general living and working spaces. The submarine’s cramped quarters meant that asbestos fibers disturbed in one area could continuously migrate throughout the entire vessel, potentially affecting all personnel aboard during experimental operations.
The Perils of Asbestos
Asbestos presents serious health threats that can remain hidden for decades before manifesting as the severe illnesses associated with exposure. The microscopic particles released into the environment can be unknowingly inhaled or ingested, and these particles can then become permanently embedded in the lungs, pleura, and other tissues. Once in place, they can trigger inflammation, cellular damage, and cell death, all of which can ultimately lead to cancer and other life-threatening conditions.
Asbestos-related conditions can range from chronic to critical. The most benign are still disabling, and include pleural plaques, pleural effusions, and diffuse pleural thickening. While these conditions are not typically fatal, they all affect the lining of the lungs and can cause breathing difficulties and chest pain, significantly impacting quality of life. Some of these conditions — especially pleural effusions — often serve as the first sign of more serious asbestos-related diseases.
Asbestos exposure also significantly increases the risk of lung cancer, which may not manifest for years, and which is especially prevalent in those who were exposed to the toxic material and who smoked. Asbestosis is another risk. It is a non-cancerous but still serious scarring of the lung tissue that leads to progressively worsening breathing difficulties, persistent cough, and significant chest pain.
The most dangerous asbestos-related disease is mesothelioma. This rare and aggressive cancer is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure and is invariably fatal, with most patients surviving only 12 to 21 months after diagnosis. The disease appears in several forms, with the most common being pleural mesothelioma, which affects the thin membrane lining the lungs. The malignancy can also impact the cavity holding the heart or the organ lining the abdominal cavity. It typically begins showing symptoms, including chest pain, shortness of breath, persistent cough, and abdominal swelling, 20 to 50 years after initial exposure.
Legal Options and Answers for USS Albacore Veterans
Several Navy personnel who served on the USS Albacore have been diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases, including asbestosis and asbestos-related lung cancer, and since the ship was still in service less than five decades ago, many more remain at risk. If you served aboard the USS Albacore and have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, you have multiple pathways for both compensation and care.
Department of Veterans Affairs Claims
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has recognized that asbestos was present throughout its ships and other installations and has established mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases as service-connected conditions. Veterans exposed during their service can have their claims expedited, and the rare form of cancer’s designation as 100% disabling ensures maximum compensation and provides extensive benefits.
Product Liability, Personal Injury, and Wrongful Death Lawsuits
Beyond VA benefits, veterans and their survivors may pursue legal action against the manufacturers and suppliers of asbestos-containing products used aboard their vessels. While veterans can’t sue the Navy or the government, they can pursue third-party claims against those private companies that failed to issue any warnings about the products they supplied, despite fully knowing of their dangers. Victims have secured both substantial settlements and multi-million-dollar jury awards to compensate for their costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. Companies that produced insulation, gaskets, valves, pumps, and other asbestos-containing materials are
Asbestos Bankruptcy Trusts
Asbestos bankruptcy trusts were established by companies forced into bankruptcy after being found legally liable for their negligence in manufacturing and distributing asbestos products. Their negotiated settlements included requirements to establish trust funds designated for victims of asbestos-related diseases. To date, billions of dollars in claims have already been paid, and over $30 billion remains held in trust for future victims. The process of applying and qualifying for this compensation is complex, but less stressful and time-consuming than filing a lawsuit.
Obtain Professional Legal Assistance
Mesothelioma attorneys are legal professionals who specialize in helping victims of asbestos exposure. If you or someone you love worked on or served in the USS Albacore and has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, contacting one of these lawyers can make a significant difference in your financial future and the economic security of your family. They understand the unique challenges of proving naval service exposure and linking it to your diagnosis. They can also help identify all potentially responsible parties and available compensation sources, coordinate legal strategies, and assist with filing VA claims. Their goal is to maximize the compensation and benefits you receive while making sure that they remove stress for the affected veteran and their family.
Time is of the essence. It is the most valuable commodity for anybody dealing with a fatal disease, but it is especially important for those who want to seek justice, as limitations called statutes of limitations apply to personal injury claims. This makes it important for anybody dealing with an asbestos diagnosis to seek legal assistance as soon as possible. Meeting with an attorney early in the process allows you and your family to give serious consideration to your options before moving forward, and the earlier you choose to move forward, the more quickly a mesothelioma attorney can begin gathering service records, medical documentation, and other evidence necessary to build a strong case.
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