The USS Runner (SS-476) was a Tench-class submarine that operated from 1945 to 1969. As was common practice when the vessel was built, significant amounts of asbestos were used throughout its structure, placing thousands of crew members who served aboard the Runner at risk of mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, and additional severe health conditions linked to asbestos contact.
The USS Runner and Tench-Class Submarines
Tench-class submarines, including the USS Runner, were a cutting-edge diesel-electric design that emerged from the Navy’s wartime experience. Named for an amberfish known for rapid leaps from the water, the submarine and all those in her class embodied advanced engineering principles developed during World War II naval operations.
Tench-class vessels stretched 311 feet 8 inches long, with a 27-foot 4-inch beam and 15-foot 3-inch draft. Standard displacement measured 1,570 tons, increasing to 2,414 tons when submerged. The vessel housed 76 officers and crew in extremely tight conditions. Powered by four Fairbanks-Morse diesel engines driving electrical generators, the Runner’s surface speed reached 20 knots, while its armament included one 5-inch gun, two 20mm guns, ten 21-inch torpedo tubes, and two .30 caliber machine guns. These vessels incorporated revolutionary snorkeling technology that enabled extended underwater operations far beyond earlier submarine capabilities.[1]
Early Years and Operational History
Construction on the USS Runner began in July 1944, a full year before World War II ended, at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in New Hampshire. The vessel launched in October 1944 with Mrs. R.H. Bass serving as sponsor, and was commissioned in February 1945 under Commander R.H. Bass.[2]
Following initial trials and training along the Atlantic seaboard, the Runner set out for Pearl Harbor in May 1945. The submarine’s inaugural war patrol targeted Japan’s eastern Honshu coastline, with primary objectives involving reconnaissance of defensive mining operations protecting Japanese territorial waters.[2]
During July 10th patrol activities in the Sea of Japan, Runner engaged two significant targets: a tanker and a minesweeper. While the tanker and accompanying escorts evaded torpedo attacks, minesweeper W-27 sustained direct hits from three Runner torpedoes. Before departing, Runner rescued 16 downed airmen from submarines Gabilan (SS-252) and Aspro (SS-309), transferring them to Guam.
Runner’s second patrol began shortly before the Japanese surrender, and by the time the submarine reached station off Honshu, the war hostilities had ended. On August 31st, Runner joined ten other U.S. submarines entering Tokyo Bay to witness formal surrender ceremonies. The submarine force left Japan in early September, arriving at Pearl Harbor and then continuing to New London, Connecticut. The Runner earned one battle star for her World War II service.
In February 1946, the Runner joined Submarine Squadron 6 at Balboa, Canal Zone, participating in Caribbean fleet exercises for three years. June 1949 saw her reassigned to Norfolk, where she operated for seven years. In autumn 1957, she participated in North Atlantic NATO exercises, including port visits to France and England.
From July 1958 to July 1959, the Runner was homeported in San Juan, Puerto Rico, serving as a Regulus missile guidance platform in the Caribbean. Upon her return to Norfolk in July 1959, the submarine spent three years conducting Atlantic coast fleet operations, including a four-month Mediterranean deployment in 1962 with U.S. and NATO forces.
From 1963 to 1964, the Runner engaged in western Atlantic antisubmarine warfare training, including Naval Reserve instruction in the Great Lakes. After its 1965 spring operations, Runner entered the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for a major overhaul. In 1966, her schedule included ASW exercises, training services, and Exercise Springboard participation, plus a Mediterranean deployment with the 6th Fleet that lasted from early July to late October.
In 1967, the Runner’s activities were focused on providing submarine school instruction, and in early 1968, she provided UDT school support at Little Creek, Virginia, as well as East Coast ASW training. April 1968 marked the Runner’s final Mediterranean deployment: She returned to Norfolk at the end of July after visiting Spanish and Portuguese ports and participating in NATO Exercise Dawn Patrol.
The Runner was decommissioned in January 1969 at the Boston Naval Shipyard, and then was transferred to Great Lakes Naval Training Station, where it was redesignated AGSS-476 for Naval Reserve training until being struck from the Navy’s records in December 1971.
The Navy’s Dependence on Asbestos-containing Materials
As long ago as the beginning of the 20th century, the U.S. Navy incorporated asbestos extensively into submarine construction. This practice reached its maximum levels during World War II and throughout the Cold War decades. Unaware that the mineral was carcinogenic, naval leadership put its faith in asbestos because of its superior fire-resistant qualities, heat insulation properties, and corrosion protection. These features were essential for safeguarding all combat vessels operating under hazardous conditions, and by their nature, submarines were considered especially susceptible to catastrophic incidents. The material’s flexible fiber structure made it perfect for countless uses within submarines’ restricted spaces, including pipe wrapping, sealing components, electrical parts, and fireproofing applications.
The USS Runner was built and upgraded during this peak time of Navy asbestos usage. The Navy mandated asbestos installation aboard submarines, destroyers, cruisers, and carriers. While awareness of potential health dangers from asbestos was increasing in the scientific community, the military’s extensive usage persisted into the 1970s. In 1973, the Navy began restricting its use in new construction and major vessel renovations, and by 1975, the service had essentially eliminated asbestos from new installations. However, officials decided that existing materials in thousands of ships would remain until they required maintenance.[3]
Addressing the legacy asbestos that was already integrated throughout the fleet posed a tremendous ethical challenge for the Navy. Complete elimination was considered unfeasible given the project’s massive scale, so instead they established comprehensive asbestos oversight programs, including thorough surveys of existing materials, specialized personnel training for those encountering asbestos during maintenance work, and rigorous procedures for handling and disposal. Despite this careful oversight, the continued presence of the carcinogenic material on Navy ships likely led to even more crew members becoming ill.
Asbestos Usage Throughout the USS Runner
Asbestos materials could be found in nearly every one of the Runner’s compartments and systems. This was typical of the period’s naval construction practices, as military specifications required that asbestos be used wherever heat resistance, fire safety, or insulation was required. As a result, the mineral’s distribution was widespread throughout the vessel, including:
- Engineering Areas
The submarine’s engineering sections were where the highest concentrations of asbestos were found. This included the engine compartment, torpedo bay, and auxiliary equipment areas, all of which featured asbestos insulation meant to protect machinery from the effects of friction and crew members from extreme heat. Steam lines, exhaust networks, and engine parts were covered or coated with asbestos insulation and wrapping. Flanged connections, critical elements in torpedo compartments, utilized asbestos seals and packing to prevent leakage and ensure system reliability.
- Crew and Operational Areas, Electrical and Emergency Systems
Throughout the submarine’s crew and work areas, asbestos appeared in deck coverings, bulkhead panels, overhead materials, and coating formulations. Electrical networks depended heavily on asbestos wire insulation, power conductors, and connection box components. The submarine’s emergency equipment, including fire suppression apparatus and protective gear, included asbestos fibers to help protect against intense heat and flames.
- Air Circulation Networks
Air handling systems and ductwork aboard the submarine distributed airborne asbestos that was constantly released during regular maintenance, as well as material from the system’s own insulation and filtering components. Even supplies and consumables, including seals, valve stuffing, drain components, and sealing compounds, contained the mineral, and the submarine’s armament systems used it for heat protection and fire prevention in torpedo compartments and associated equipment.
Other asbestos materials found onboard included insulation fabric and padding, bonding agents, turbine parts, and boiler wrapping. The compact nature of submarine design meant asbestos materials filled every available location, creating a widespread presence throughout the vessel.
Crew Members at Risk of Asbestos Exposure Aboard the USS Runner
Every sailor serving aboard the USS Runner had the potential for being exposed to asbestos because of its widespread distribution throughout the submarine. The vessel’s extremely cramped conditions and restricted ventilation meant that tiny asbestos particles spread whenever the mineral’s fibers became airborne, whether from maintenance activities, equipment vibration, or normal operations. Extended underwater periods in the vessel meant that asbestos particles circulated throughout the submarine constantly, making every crew member’s risk of contracting asbestos-related illnesses far greater than those on surface vessels. Submarine conditions are distinctive because they are completely sealed: The atmosphere undergoes constant recirculation, with no fresh air to reduce pollutant concentrations. However, specific crew member responsibilities and work locations have been linked to greater exposure, including:
- Engineering staff, including machinists’ mates, electricians, and torpedo technicians, worked directly with the heavily insulated equipment and systems that contained the most asbestos-containing materials. These sailors routinely conducted maintenance and repair operations that involved cutting, grinding, or removing asbestos insulation, seals, and other parts.
- Electronics specialists, nuclear technicians, and submarine plant supervisors worked with or around asbestos during equipment servicing and system repairs. Their duties frequently involved disturbing the material in electrical systems, power lines, and control apparatus. Personnel responsible for removing asbestos insulation during maintenance faced especially high exposure levels because manipulation led to a higher chance of the material breaking down.
- Torpedo compartment staff and weapons experts worked in areas where asbestos materials were essential to equipment function and safety systems. Their maintenance responsibilities often included servicing pumps, valves, and other components containing asbestos materials.
Even crew members not directly engaged in maintenance or repair faced exposure risks through contaminated uniforms, the shared air system, and asbestos materials present in general living and working areas. The submarine’s tight quarters meant asbestos fibers released in one location could continuously spread throughout the entire vessel, potentially affecting all personnel aboard.
The Dangers of Asbestos
Asbestos produces severe health dangers that frequently remain dormant for decades before appearing as serious disease. The mineral’s microscopic particles, once released into the atmosphere, can be breathed in or swallowed without the person knowing it’s happening, and these particles can then become permanently lodged in the lungs, pleura, and other internal organs. Once present, they can trigger inflammatory reactions and cellular harm that ultimately result in cancer and other fatal conditions.
- Mesothelioma is the most dangerous asbestos-related illness. This rare and aggressive cancer is almost entirely caused by exposure to asbestos, and most sufferers die within 12 to 21 months after being diagnosed. The condition attacks a thin organ found in the cavities surrounding the lungs, heart, or abdomen. Symptoms usually appear 20 to 50 years after initial contact, which can make both diagnosis and treatment more difficult. Indications of mesothelioma’s presence include chest discomfort, breathing difficulties, chronic cough, and abdominal bloating.
- Asbestos contact also substantially increases the risk of being diagnosed with lung cancer, especially for those who also smoked tobacco, as was common among Navy service members during the time that the Runner operated. Asbestos-related lung cancer may not appear until 15 to 35 years after contact. Its symptoms include persistent cough, chest discomfort, and breathing problems. The combination of asbestos contact and smoking dramatically increases the likelihood of developing both lung cancer and pleural mesothelioma.
- Asbestosis is a non-malignant but serious lung condition caused by inhaling asbestos particles. The inflammation triggered by these particles creates lung tissue scarring and can result in progressively deteriorating breathing problems, persistent cough, and severe chest discomfort. Advanced cases result in respiratory failure and death.
- Additional asbestos-related disorders include pleural plaques, pleural effusions, and widespread pleural thickening. While these conditions are not usually fatal, they all impact the lung lining and can cause breathing problems and chest discomfort, significantly affecting life quality. These conditions frequently serve as indicators of more serious asbestos-related diseases.
Legal Options and Support for USS Runner Veterans
Several Navy veterans who served on the USS Runner have been diagnosed with asbestos-related conditions, including asbestosis and asbestos-related lung cancer. If you served aboard the USS Runner and have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related condition, you have several options for both compensation and specialized medical treatment. Lawsuits filed over the last fifty years, and the government’s acknowledgment of asbestos presence aboard Navy submarines, have both created clear pathways by which affected veterans can pursue justice.
VA Benefits
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers comprehensive benefits for veterans with service-related asbestos conditions. Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis can submit claims for disability compensation, specialized medical care, and additional benefits for their families. The VA acknowledges mesothelioma as a service-related condition for veterans exposed during service, which simplifies the claims process for affected individuals. Mesothelioma’s classification as 100% disabling provides maximum compensation.
Civil Litigation
In addition to VA benefits, veterans may pursue legal action against manufacturers and suppliers of asbestos products used aboard the vessels they served on. While veterans can’t sue the Navy or government, they can pursue compensation from these companies. Successful litigation can result in significant settlements or jury verdicts to compensate for medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages. Thousands of cases have been successfully resolved against companies that manufactured insulation, seals, valves, pumps, and other asbestos products found aboard submarines like the USS Runner.
Asbestos Compensation Funds
Asbestos compensation funds represent another source of recovery for affected veterans. Dozens of companies that produced asbestos products while aware of the mineral’s dangers were required to create these funds during bankruptcy proceedings. Established specifically to compensate victims of asbestos-related illnesses, the asbestos trusts have distributed billions of dollars in claims and offer a quick alternative to extended litigation.
Contact an Asbestos Lawyer for Help
Veterans diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses are well served by consulting an experienced asbestos lawyer who specializes in military exposure cases. These knowledgeable legal professionals understand the unique challenges of naval service exposure: They can help identify all potentially liable parties and available compensation sources, coordinate legal strategies, and assist with filing VA claims. Their goal is to minimize the burden on affected veterans and their families while maximizing the compensation they receive.
Time restrictions apply to many legal claims, making it crucial for affected veterans to seek professional, specialized legal help as soon as possible after diagnosis. The faster you make contact with a mesothelioma lawyer, the more time they will have to begin collecting service records, medical documentation, and other evidence necessary, no matter what path you choose. With knowledgeable, experienced legal representation, veterans sickened after serving aboard the USS Runner can access the benefits and compensation they deserve.
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