The USS Grampus (SS-523) was a Tench-class submarine that served the United States Navy from 1949 to 1972. Like virtually all naval vessels constructed during the mid-20th century, the submarine contained asbestos throughout her structure, and hundreds of sailors who served aboard her during her decades of active service were exposed to the mineral’s dangerous fibers. Navy veterans who served on the Grampus face elevated risks of developing mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and other serious asbestos-related diseases.
About the USS Grampus and the Tench-class Submarines
Tench-class submarines like the USS Grampus featured the advanced diesel-electric submarine technology that the Navy developed in the late 1940s. Named after the grampus, a large cetacean (Grampus griseus) of the “blackfish family” commonly referred to as Risso’s dolphin, the submarine was designed to incorporate lessons learned from World War II submarine operations.[1]
The Grampus and other tench-class submarines measured 311 feet 8 inches in length, with a beam of 27 feet 3 inches and a draft of 15 feet 3 inches. Her displacement reached 1,570 tons standard and 2,428 tons when submerged. She carried a complement of 82 officers and enlisted personnel in extremely confined quarters. The submarine was capable of 20 knots on the surface and was armed with 10 21-inch torpedo tubes. Her advanced “snorkeling equipment” permitted her to remain submerged for periods far longer than the World War II fleet-class boats, making her a prototype for the post-war “Guppy” class diesel-electric submarines.[2]
Construction and Service History
Construction of the USS Grampus began in 1944 at the Naval Shipyard in Boston, but work was suspended at the end of World War II, and the vessel was left uncompleted. Construction resumed in 1948, and the submarine was launched in October 1949, sponsored by Mrs. Clark H. Woodward, who had also sponsored the previous Grampus, which was declared missing and presumed lost with all hands in March 1943. The vessel was commissioned under Commander George F. Sharp.[1]
After her commissioning, the Grampus was attached to Submarine Division (SubDiv) 61 at Norfolk Naval Base, where she trained and familiarized surface anti-submarine warfare (ASW) forces with fast underwater submarines. These exercises largely took place off the East Coast and in the Caribbean, and included torpedo attack exercises, snorkeling tests and demonstrations, and tactical ASW training. The Grampus also helped develop early HUK (Hunter-Killer) antisubmarine patrol strategies in support of the Navy’s overseas deployments.
From January to April 1955, the Grampus was sent to the Mediterranean, where she “showed the flag” at Algiers, Naples, Barcelona, Malta, Beirut, Monaco, and Gibraltar before returning to Norfolk and her routine of exercises and tests. She also underwent several overhauls at the Portsmouth and Philadelphia naval yards.
Throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Grampus conducted North Atlantic and Arctic training exercises with Task Group “Alfa.” She made a second Mediterranean deployment with the 6th Fleet between April and August 1964. After an overhaul at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in 1965, the submarine was sent on several missions to the West Indies to test equipment for the nuclear-powered submarine program and to evaluate new tactics.
In May 1966, the Grampus left Norfolk for a cruise to the eastern Atlantic and northern Europe, largely to conduct North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ASW exercises and train with allied navies in the region. Returning to Norfolk in August, she conducted operations in the Virginia Capes area and the Caribbean until sailing in December to Philadelphia for repairs.
The submarine spent her final years providing training services out of Norfolk, mixed with occasional cruises to the West Indies or Europe. Highlights of this time include advanced ASW tactical evaluations, training prospective submarine officers, and sailing with the UNITAS Task Force around South America between July and December 1969.
After spending two more years operating out of Norfolk, the Grampus was decommissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in May 1972 and was struck from the Navy list. The submarine was sold to the Federal Republic of Brazil and served in the Brazilian Navy as Rio Grande do Sul (S 11) until she was scrapped in 1978.[1]
The Navy’s Reliance on Asbestos
The U.S. Navy systematically used asbestos in its submarines at the start of the 1900s.[3] This use peaked during World War II and the Cold War period. The Navy valued asbestos for its exceptional fire-retardant properties, thermal insulation capabilities, and resistance to corrosion. These characteristics were deemed invaluable for protecting combat vessels operating in dangerous environments, and submarines were considered particularly vulnerable to disaster. The mineral’s flexible fibrous nature made it ideal for incorporation into countless applications in tight spaces, from pipe insulation and gaskets to electrical components and fireproofing materials.
The USS Grampus was constructed and modernized at the height of the Navy’s asbestos use, when it was most common in naval construction. Rather than the material being used intermittently, the Navy mandated its use aboard submarines, destroyers, cruisers, and aircraft carriers. Despite growing concerns about possible health hazards associated with asbestos exposure, this widespread use continued well into the 1970s, when accumulating scientific evidence definitively established the link between asbestos exposure and serious respiratory diseases and cancer. By 1973, the Navy began limiting asbestos use in new construction and major overhauls of its vessels, and by 1975, the service had largely phased asbestos out of all new installations. Unfortunately, it was decided that existing materials in thousands of vessels would remain in place until they required maintenance.
Managing the legacy asbestos already integrated 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, but complete asbestos removal was deemed impractical based on the immense scope of the project. Instead, the Navy emphasized containment, encapsulation, and careful management of the carcinogenic materials until contaminated vessels could be decommissioned.
Asbestos Applications Throughout the USS Grampus
The USS Grampus contained asbestos-containing materials in virtually every one of its compartments and systems. This reflected standard naval construction practices of the era, as military specifications required asbestos-containing products wherever heat resistance, fire protection, or insulation was needed. The mineral’s presence was ubiquitous throughout the vessel’s structure.
Machinery Spaces
The submarine’s machinery spaces contained the highest concentrations of asbestos materials. The engine room, torpedo room, and auxiliary machinery compartments were lined with asbestos insulation to protect equipment and personnel from extreme temperatures. Steam pipes, exhaust systems, and engine components were wrapped or sprayed with asbestos-containing insulation and blankets. Flanged valves, which were important components in torpedo rooms, contained asbestos gaskets and packing materials to prevent leaks and maintain system integrity.
Living and Working Spaces, Electrical and Damage Control Systems
Throughout the submarine’s living and working spaces, asbestos appeared in floor tiles, wall panels, ceiling materials, and paint formulations. Electrical systems relied extensively on asbestos-containing wire insulation, power cables, and junction box materials. The submarine’s damage control equipment, including firefighting gear and protective clothing, contained asbestos fibers for protection against extreme heat and flames.
Ventilation Systems
Ventilation systems and ductwork circulated asbestos released into the air from routine maintenance, as well as from the system’s insulation and filter materials. Even supplies and consumables, such as gaskets, valve packing, drain valves, and joint compounds, contained significant asbestos content, and the submarine’s weapons systems incorporated asbestos materials for thermal protection and fire resistance in torpedo rooms and related equipment.
Additional asbestos-containing materials included insulation cloth and felt, adhesives, turbine components, and boiler insulation. The confined nature of submarine construction meant that asbestos materials were packed into every available space, creating a pervasive presence throughout the vessel.
Personnel at Risk of Asbestos Exposure Aboard the USS Grampus
Every sailor who served aboard the USS Grampus faced potential asbestos exposure due to the extensive presence of asbestos-containing materials throughout the submarine. The vessel’s extremely confined spaces and limited ventilation systems caused microscopic asbestos fibers to circulate throughout the vessel’s compartments whenever the mineral’s fibers became airborne, whether related to maintenance, equipment vibration, or routine operations. As crew members spent extended periods in the vessel, asbestos fibers continuously moved throughout the submarine, significantly increasing every crew member’s risk of developing asbestos-related diseases.
Submarine environments are unique because they are entirely enclosed: The air in the vessel is constantly recirculated, with no fresh air diluting concentrations of contaminants. Still, certain crew members faced higher exposure risks than others due to their duties and work stations. Engineering personnel, including machinists’ mates, electricians, and torpedo room technicians, worked directly with the heavily insulated machinery and systems that contained the highest concentrations of asbestos materials. These sailors regularly performed maintenance and repair tasks that involved cutting, grinding, or removing asbestos-containing insulation, gaskets, and other components.
Electronic technicians, nuclear power technicians, and submarine nuclear plant supervisors encountered asbestos during equipment maintenance and system repairs. Their work often involved disturbing asbestos-containing materials in electrical systems, power cables, and control equipment. Those responsible for removing asbestos insulation during maintenance operations faced particularly high exposure levels.
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 pumps, valves, and other components that contained asbestos materials.
Even crew members not directly involved in maintenance or repair 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.
The Hazards of Asbestos
Asbestos creates severe health hazards that can remain latent for decades before manifesting into the serious diseases associated with exposure. The microscopic fibers released into the air can be inhaled or ingested without the individual realizing it’s happening, and these fibers can become permanently embedded in the lungs, pleura, and other tissues. Once there, they can later cause inflammatory responses and cellular damage, and ultimately lead to cancer and other life-threatening conditions.
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 used tobacco products. 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. The combination of asbestos exposure and smoking dramatically multiplies the risk of developing both lung cancer and pleural mesothelioma.
Asbestosis is a non-cancerous but serious 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. Severe cases can progress to respiratory failure and death.
Other asbestos-related conditions 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. Additionally, these conditions often serve as precursors to more serious asbestos-related diseases.
Legal Options for USS Grampus Veterans
Multiple Navy veterans who served on the USS Grampus have been diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases, including asbestosis and asbestos-related lung cancer.[4] If you, too, served aboard the USS Grampus and have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, you have multiple avenues 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.
VA Claims
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides comprehensive benefits for veterans with service-connected asbestos-related diseases. Veterans 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 who’ve been affected, and mesothelioma’s rating as100% disabling provides maximum compensation.
Personal Injury Lawsuits
Beyond VA benefits, veterans 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 sue those companies. Successful lawsuits can result in substantial out-of-court settlements or jury awards to compensate for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. Thousands of cases have been successfully resolved against companies that produced insulation, gaskets, valves, pumps, and other asbestos-containing materials found aboard submarines like the USS Grampus.
Asbestos Trust Funds
Asbestos trust funds represent another important source of compensation for affected veterans. Many companies that manufactured asbestos products were required to establish these funds during bankruptcy proceedings. Created specifically to compensate victims of asbestos-related diseases, these trusts have paid billions of dollars in claims and provide an alternative to lengthy litigation processes.
Contact an Asbestos Attorney for Assistance
Veterans diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases should consult with an experienced asbestos attorney who specializes in military exposure cases. These knowledgeable legal professionals understand the unique challenges of documenting naval service exposure: They will help identify all potentially responsible parties and available compensation sources, coordinate legal strategies, and help with filing VA claims. Their goal is to minimize the burden on affected veterans and their families while maximizing the compensation they receive
Time limitations apply to many legal claims, making it important for affected veterans to seek legal help as soon as possible after diagnosis. Doing so allows your mesothelioma attorney to begin gathering service records, medical documentation, and other evidence necessary to build a strong case. With proper legal representation, veterans sickened after having served aboard the USS Grampus can access the benefits and compensation they deserve.
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