The USS Batfish (SSN-681) was a nuclear-powered attack submarine that served the United States Navy from 1972 to 1999. Built in the years before asbestos was identified as carcinogenic, serving on the ship meant being exposed to the mineral’s dangerous fibers. As a result, Navy veterans who served on the Batfish face elevated risks of developing mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and other serious asbestos-related diseases.
About the USS Batfish and the Sturgeon-class Submarines
The USS Batfish was named after the batfish, a spiny fish with a short, broad body found in shallow waters from the Chesapeake Bay to the West Indies. The submarine was the second Navy vessel to bear this name, memorializing the successes of the first Batfish, which was a World War II submarine.[1]
The Sturgeon-class submarines were designed for anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, and carrier battle group screening operations. The sophisticated technology they incorporated included a Westinghouse S5W nuclear reactor that drove two steam turbines connected to a single propeller. The submarines were capable of approximately 20 knots surfaced and 30 knots submerged. Their primary armament consisted of four 21-inch torpedo tubes mounted amidships (her bow held a sonar array) that used Mark 48 torpedoes, SUBROC missiles, Harpoon missiles, and various mines. The ships featured advanced BQQ-5 sonar systems, including the aforementioned bow-mounted spherical array and a retractable 1,100-foot towed array, along with two periscopes for visual surveillance.
Measuring 302 feet 2 inches in length, the Batfish was one of several long-hull versions of the Sturgeon class that had an extra 10 feet of hull space over earlier vessels in her class. She had a beam of 31 feet 8 inches and a draft of 29 feet 6 inches when surfaced. Her displacement reached 3,640 long tons surfaced and 4,650 long tons when submerged. She carried a complement that varied over time from 107 to 122 personnel – typically 12 officers and 95 to 110 enlisted men – all operating in extremely confined conditions.[1]
Construction and Service History
The contract to build the USS Batfish was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in June of 1968. Her keel was laid down at the Groton, Connecticut, shipyard in February 1970. Originally budgeted at $67 million in the Navy’s fiscal year 1967 budget, her estimated cost had risen to $76.5 million by 1970 due to the complexity of submarine construction and Navy-required design modifications.[1]
Early Days
The Batfish was sponsored by Mrs. Mildred C. Gralla, wife of Vice Admiral Arthur R. Gralla, commander of the Military Sealift Command. She was launched in October 1971, with Senator Lowell P. Weicker serving as the featured speaker at the ceremony. After completing initial sea trials in June 1972 under Admiral Hyman G. Rickover’s supervision, the Batfish was commissioned in September 1972, with Commander Richard E. Enkeboll in command and Rear Admiral Walter L. Small as the featured speaker.
After her commissioning, the Batfish sailed to her homeport of Charleston, South Carolina, and conducted shakedown operations in the West Indies through November. In the first half of 1973, her activities were focused on weapons testing and inspections. After returning to Charleston in early November 1973, she underwent type training, weapons inspection, and holiday upkeep.
In early 1974, the submarine’s crew underwent weapons and engineering training, and the submarine underwent modifications at Alamogordo (ARDM-2) for a special Navy project. After system evaluation and refresher training at New London and sound trials in the Bahama Islands, the Batfish began an extended upkeep period.
European Deployments
In late spring 1974, the Batfish deployed to the eastern Atlantic for a major antisubmarine warfare operation, visiting Portland, England, before returning to Charleston in late June. She participated in fleet exercises in the Jacksonville area and took part in exercises, including a sea control group crossing to the Norwegian Sea and NATO Exercise “Northern Merger” during August and September. After restricted availability at Charleston Naval Shipyard from October through early December, she spent early 1975 in type training and torpedo exercises.
The submarine’s first extended overseas assignment began in July 1975, when she departed for special operations in the Atlantic. Entering the Mediterranean, she participated in numerous ASW operations, then made her first port visit at Taranto, Italy, after 53 days at sea. Throughout the remainder of 1975, she engaged in special operations, NATO exercises including “Deep Express” and “Devil Foil,” and multiple port visits, working with naval units from Turkey, Great Britain, Italy, and the United States.
The Batfish continued Mediterranean operations through early 1976, participating in NATO Exercise “Dogfish” before returning to Charleston in February. Following post-deployment upkeep, she conducted type training, local operations, and midshipman training cruises. In August 1976, she returned to the eastern Atlantic for NATO Exercise “Teamwork 76,” visiting Faslane, Scotland, and operating with British and Dutch forces before returning to Charleston in December.
Throughout 1977 and 1978, the Batfish alternated between special operations in the Atlantic, port visits to European ports including Holy Loch, Scotland, and Bremerhaven, Germany, and maintenance periods at Charleston. She participated in various exercises and testing programs, including “Gulfex 79” in the Gulf of Mexico.
Final Years
In March 1979, the Batfish began a non-refueling overhaul at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, completing the work in June 1980. Following refresher training at the Naval Submarine School in Groton, she returned to Charleston and resumed operations, including weapons testing at Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, and acoustic trials in the Bahamas.
The submarine began an extensive overhaul in January 1988 at Charleston Naval Shipyard. This overhaul faced significant delays and cost overruns, with sea trials not beginning until December 1990. The work was completed 14 months late and $6 million over budget, costing $127.5 million and drawing public criticism from the Commander of the Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet.
The Batfish remained in service until March 1999, when she was decommissioned and struck from the Navy list. She was disposed of through submarine recycling in November 2002.
The Navy’s Constant Asbestos Use
Through much of the 20th century, the U.S. Navy systematically used asbestos in submarine construction. The practice reached its peak during the Cold War period, when vessels like the USS Batfish were built to counter the Soviet threat. Navy officials valued asbestos for its exceptional fire-resistance and superior thermal insulation, as well as the lack of chemical corrosion, even in the face of maritime environments. These qualities were particularly important once the Navy began building nuclear-powered attack submarines, which were especially vulnerable when equipment failures or emergencies occurred. The mineral’s fibrous structure also made it flexible, and thus perfect for integration into applications with restricted space. It was used in everything from pipe insulation and gasket materials to electrical components and fire-resistant coatings.
The USS Batfish was constructed and modernized during the height of the Navy’s reliance on asbestos, when it mandated that the material be used for parts needed in submarines, destroyers, cruisers, and aircraft carriers. Even as concerns about potential health hazards associated with asbestos exposure were rising in the scientific community, the military continued requiring its use until the link between the mineral and serious respiratory diseases and cancer was definitively established in the mid-1970s.
Reversing Shipboard Asbestos Requirements
By 1973, the Navy had begun restricting asbestos use in new construction and major vessel overhauls, and by 1975, the service had largely phased out asbestos from all new installations. Unfortunately, existing materials in thousands of vessels remained in place until maintenance required their removal, and in some cases, it was never removed.
Managing the legacy asbestos already embedded throughout its fleet presented an enormous challenge for the Navy. The military developed comprehensive asbestos management programs, including detailed surveys of existing materials, specialized training for personnel who might encounter asbestos during maintenance operations, and strict protocols for its handling and disposal. However, complete asbestos removal was considered impractical given the immense scope of the undertaking. Instead, the Navy emphasized containment, encapsulation, and careful management of the dangerous materials until contaminated vessels could be decommissioned.[2]
Asbestos Applications Throughout the USS Batfish
The USS Batfish contained asbestos-bearing materials in so many parts of its structure and systems, and the vessel was so compact, that it was nearly impossible for seamen on board the submarine to avoid it. Still, some areas were more dangerous than others. These included:
- Nuclear Propulsion and Machinery Spaces
The submarine’s nuclear propulsion and machinery compartments contained the highest concentrations of asbestos materials in the vessel. The reactor compartment, engine room, and auxiliary machinery spaces were extensively lined with asbestos insulation to protect equipment and personnel from extreme temperatures generated by nuclear operations, and steam pipes, reactor cooling systems, and propulsion components were wrapped or coated with asbestos-containing insulation and protective materials.
- Operations and Living Quarters, Electrical and Emergency Systems
Throughout the submarine’s operations centers and living spaces, asbestos-infused deck materials, bulkhead coverings, overhead panels, and protective coatings. Electrical systems relied extensively on asbestos-containing wire insulation, power cables, and control system materials essential for nuclear submarine operations. Even the submarine’s emergency equipment incorporated asbestos fibers.
- Sonar and Weapons Systems
The submarine’s advanced sonar systems and weapons compartments relied on asbestos-containing materials for acoustic dampening and thermal protection. Torpedo rooms and weapons storage areas also used asbestos materials for fire resistance and thermal protection.
Who Was at Greatest Risk of Asbestos Exposure Aboard the USS Batfish?
There are few environments more vulnerable to asbestos inhalation or ingestion than a nuclear submarine. The vessel’s extremely confined spaces and closed air circulation systems, with no fresh air to dilute concentrations of contaminated air, sent toxic fibers throughout the Batfish’s compartments whenever the mineral’s fibers became airborne, whether from maintenance activities, equipment operation, or routine procedures. Between crew members spending extended periods within the vessel and asbestos particles continuously circulating throughout, every crew member onboard was put at risk of developing asbestos-related diseases.
Certain crew members faced higher exposure risks due to their duties and work locations. Engineering personnel, including nuclear reactor operators, electricians, and sonar technicians, worked directly with the heavily insulated machinery and nuclear systems that contained the highest concentrations of asbestos materials. These sailors routinely performed maintenance and repair tasks that involved removing asbestos-containing insulation, cleaning gaskets, and replacing nuclear system components.
Sonar operators, torpedo room personnel, and weapons specialists worked in compartments where asbestos materials were integral to equipment operation and safety systems. Their maintenance duties often involved servicing and maintaining sophisticated systems that contained asbestos materials.
Even crew members not directly involved in maintenance or nuclear operations faced exposure risks through contaminated uniforms, the shared ventilation system, and the presence of asbestos materials in general living and working spaces.
The Hazards of Asbestos Exposure
When microscopic asbestos fibers are released into the air, they can be inhaled or ingested without the individual realizing it’s happening. These needle-edged fibers can then become embedded in the lungs, pleura, and other tissues, where they can cause inflammatory responses and cellular damage. For many, this process ultimately leads to cancer and other life-threatening conditions that can remain latent for decades before manifesting into these serious diseases.
Mesothelioma represents the most serious asbestos-related disease. 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 affects the thin membrane lining the lungs, heart, or abdomen and typically develops 20 to 50 years after initial exposure. Mesothelioma symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, persistent cough, and abdominal swelling.
Asbestos exposure also significantly increases the risk of lung cancer, particularly for exposed individuals who also smoked cigarettes. Asbestos-related lung cancer may not manifest for 15 to 35 years after exposure and often presents with symptoms similar to other forms of lung cancer, including persistent cough, chest pain, and difficulty breathing.
Asbestosis is a non-cancerous but serious chronic lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. The inflammation caused by these fibers results in scarring of lung tissue, leading to progressively worsening breathing difficulties, persistent cough, and significant chest pain.
Other asbestos-related conditions include pleural plaques, pleural effusions, and diffuse pleural thickening, which are often precursors to more serious asbestos-related diseases that develop later. 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.
Options for USS Batfish Veterans
Navy veterans who served on the USS Batfish and other submarines built in the same era have been diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases. If you served aboard the USS Batfish and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another related illness, you have several options for both compensation and specialized medical care. Legal precedent and the government’s recognition of asbestos presence aboard Navy submarines have established clear pathways for affected veterans to seek justice.
Veterans Affairs Claims
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides comprehensive benefits for veterans with service-connected asbestos-related diseases. Those diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis can file claims for disability compensation, specialized medical treatment, and additional benefits for their families. The VA recognizes mesothelioma as a service-connected condition for veterans exposed during their service, which streamlines the claims process for those affected. Mesothelioma’s rating as 100% disabling provides maximum compensation.
Liability Claims
Veterans can’t sue the Navy or the government for the harm they’ve suffered, but they can pursue claims against private companies. Successful lawsuits can result in substantial settlements or jury awards to compensate for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Asbestos Trust Fund Claims
Asbestos trust funds established by the companies that manufactured or supplied asbestos products present another form of compensation. Created specifically to compensate those exposed to their products and later diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases, these trusts have paid billions of dollars in claims and provide a less stressful alternative to litigation.
Contact an Asbestos Attorney for Information and Assistance
Asbestos attorneys specialize in mesothelioma and other related diseases, whether exposure occurred during military service, on the job, or through asbestos carried home on a family member’s clothing. They know the ins and outs of documenting naval service exposure and can identify all potentially responsible parties and available compensation sources. Whether they’re coordinating a legal strategy or assisting with filing VA claims, their goal is to minimize the burden on their clients and their families while maximizing the compensation they receive.
There are strict time limits for filing legal claims, so affected veterans should contact a mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible after diagnosis. The earlier you know your options and deadlines, the more time you’ll give your attorney to begin gathering service and other evidence to build a strong case.
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