The USS Sea Devil (SSN-607) was a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine that played a critical role in America’s Cold War arsenal. Named after the manta ray, this formidable Navy vessel patrolled the world’s oceans for over twenty years, conducting vital intelligence operations and maintaining underwater dominance against the Soviets. Like many submarines of her era, the Sea Devil was built with extensive amounts of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials. These created significant health risks for her crew members, who are now at risk for mesothelioma and related illnesses.
About the USS Sea Devil
The Sea Devil was the second vessel to bear this distinctive name in U.S. Naval history. Construction began in April 1966 at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Virginia, and she was launched in October 1967, with Mrs. Ignatius J. Galantin serving as sponsor. The submarine entered active service at the end of January 1969 under the command of Lieutenant Commander Richard A. Currier.[1]
Like her sister submarines in the Sturgeon class, the Sea Devil measured 292 feet, 3 inches long and had a beam of 31 feet, 8 inches. Submerged, she displaced 4,268 tons. She carried a crew of 108 officers and enlisted personnel and could achieve underwater speeds of 25 knots, powered by a Westinghouse S5W pressurized-water nuclear reactor that generated heat and steam that then powered the vessel’s two turbines. The submarine’s armament consisted of four 21-inch torpedo tubes, later enhanced to include Sub-Harpoon and Tomahawk cruise missile capabilities.[2]
About the Sturgeon Class Submarines
The Sea Devil belonged to the renowned Sturgeon class. These submarines, specifically engineered as hunter-killer vessels, represented a significant advancement over the earlier Thresher/Permit class design. Designed to seek out and neutralize enemy submarines during the height of the Cold War, the 37 “workhorses” of the Navy’s underwater fleet were built with enhanced stealth characteristics and sophisticated electronic systems, making them among the most capable attack submarines of their generation.[3]
The improvements made to the Sturgeon class included sonar technology with advanced BQQ sonar suites. Later, towed array systems were added, providing superior detection capabilities. With operational depths reaching 1,300 feet and virtually unlimited submerged endurance thanks to their nuclear propulsion, these submarines could conduct extended patrols in hostile waters while remaining undetected.
The Sturgeon-class submarines were built between 1963 and 1975, making them the largest class of nuclear attack submarines built for the Navy until the Los Angeles class. Many of the vessels, including the Sea Devil, were specially configured for intelligence gathering missions, carrying NSA personnel and specialized equipment for covert operations.
USS Sea Devil’s Service Record
Once she was commissioned, the Sea Devil was assigned to Submarine Division 62 at Norfolk, Virginia, where she began her operational career. Her early service focused on North Atlantic operations: She conducted anti-submarine warfare exercises and surveillance missions that were essential to NATO’s maritime strategy.
Arctic and Cold War Operations
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the Sea Devil distinguished herself in some of the Navy’s most challenging operational environments. The submarine conducted multiple Arctic deployments, earning her crew the coveted “Blue Nose” distinction for crossing the Arctic Circle during operations in January 1972, January 1980, and June 1985.
Her Arctic capabilities were further demonstrated during specialized missions to the North Pole in May 1987 and again in October 1990, showcasing the vessel’s ability to operate in the world’s most demanding underwater environment. These polar operations were crucial for maintaining American strategic advantages during the Cold War’s final decades.
Mediterranean Deployments and NATO Operations
The Sea Devil completed numerous Mediterranean deployments as part of the Sixth Fleet, conducting anti-submarine warfare operations and participating in multinational NATO exercises. Her Mediterranean service included deployments from December 1972 to January 1973, January to July 1976, February to July 1980, May to August 1981, March to September 1984, and July to December 1989.
During her 1976 Mediterranean deployment, the Sea Devil achieved the historic milestone of being the first nuclear-powered submarine to visit Morocco. A year later, she distinguished herself by being the first nuclear vessel to call at Kalamata, Greece. These visits demonstrated the submarine’s role beyond combat, in diplomatic and alliance-building activities.
Recognition and Awards
The Sea Devil’s exceptional performance earned numerous commendations throughout her service life. She received three Navy Unit Commendations and the prestigious Battle Efficiency “E” Award, which recognized her superior operational readiness and crew performance. The submarine also earned two Commander Sixth Fleet “HOOK EM” awards for excellence in anti-submarine warfare operations.
Her outstanding service led to her being nominated for the Arleigh Burke Award, one of the Navy’s highest honors for surface and submarine warfare excellence. The Sea Devil also participated in major NATO exercises, including “COMMON EFFORT” and “NORTHERN WEDDING,” as well as joint training operations with British naval forces.
Modernization and Weapons Systems Upgrade
In August 1981, the Sea Devil became part of Submarine Squadron 4 and relocated from Norfolk to Charleston, South Carolina. She immediately entered Charleston Naval Shipyard for an extensive 20-month refueling overhaul that included modifications to her weapons systems to allow her to carry and fire Tomahawk cruise missiles.
This modernization project significantly enhanced the Sea Devil’s combat capabilities, transforming her into one of the Navy’s most capable attack submarines. The upgrade gave the submarine the ability to engage both underwater and surface targets at extended ranges, and she was equipped with the latest fire control systems and communication technologies. Notably, she was the first nuclear submarine to have this overhaul completed three months ahead of schedule, demonstrating the efficiency of both her crew and the shipyard personnel.[3]
Final Service and Decommissioning
After being modernized, the Sea Devil continued her active operations throughout the 1980s, conducting intelligence missions and maintaining readiness throughout the final phase of the Cold War. Her last major deployment lasted from July to December 1989, and was followed by a shorter, specialized North Pole mission in late 1990.
The Sea Devil was decommissioned in October 1991. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register as the Cold War ended and the Navy cut the size of its submarine fleet. She entered the Nuclear-Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, and recycling operations began in March 1998. By September 1999, her nuclear fuel was transferred to the Naval Reactors Facility in Idaho for long-term storage.[1]
Why Did the Navy Use Asbestos in Its Vessels?
The U.S. Navy’s reliance on asbestos materials was the natural outcome of the unique operational requirements of naval vessels combined with the mineral’s exceptional properties. Boats, and particularly submarines, operate in challenging maritime environments, and asbestos’s unbeatable heat resistance, fire suppression capabilities, superior insulation characteristics, chemical resistance, durability, and cost-effectiveness made it a common-sense choice, especially without knowledge of the material’s health dangers.
The risks associated with asbestos exposure remained largely concealed until the mid-1970s, leaving the personnel who served aboard asbestos-contaminated vessels without adequate protection or knowledge of the risks involved.
Asbestos Applications in Naval Vessels
Asbestos was integrated into virtually every aspect of naval ship construction. It appeared in systems and components throughout submarines like the USS Sea Devil, including:
Thermal Control Systems
- Piping insulation and heat shields
- Boiler room and engine compartment insulation
- Steam line safeguarding
- Protective covering for wiring and conduits
Structural Elements
- Ceiling and partition panels
- Decking and floor materials
- Sealants and gasket compounds
- Packing materials for valves and mechanical seals
Fire Protection Materials
- Heat- and flame-resistant garments and equipment covers
- Safety apparel for extreme temperatures
- Fireproof storage units and containers
Propulsion and Mechanical Components
- Insulation for steam turbines
- Protective casings for motors and pumps
- Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning components
- Friction materials for brakes and clutches
Submarine-Specific Asbestos Hazards
Submarines have limited space, and their compact design created unique challenges that were often answered through the use of asbestos-containing materials. Nuclear-powered submarines like the Sea Devil presented even more complexities, as their propulsion systems required effective protection from radiation and high-temperature insulation around reactor compartments and steam-generating equipment. Asbestos was considered indispensable in these applications and many more.
Integral to successful submarine design was an effective air circulation system that continuously recycled cabin air during long periods undersea. The closed atmosphere couldn’t vent contaminated air out of the vessel, so any asbestos fibers released into the environment remained suspended in the breathing space for extremely long periods.
Weapons storage and torpedo compartments added to the exposure risk, as there was asbestos in their sealing systems, insulation components, and safety equipment, and the Sturgeon-class submarines’ mission priority made noise reduction essential. To achieve the necessary stealth capabilities, submarines relied heavily on asbestos-based sound-dampening materials and insulation systems throughout the vessel.
Health Risks and Medical Consequences
When asbestos has been included in a product, it is not automatically dangerous. It is only when the material is damaged, deteriorated, or in some other way impacted in a way that releases its fibers into the air that it becomes a hazard to health. Unfortunately, that type of activity is ongoing in submarines, where damage constantly needs to be repaired, equipment needs to be maintained, there is ongoing vibration from a ship’s operations, and progressive material degradation. Once they become airborne and either inhaled or ingested, these microscopic fibers can cause severe health problems.
Mesothelioma is a devastating and rare malignancy that attacks the thin membrane encasing the lungs, abdominal cavity, or cardiac region. This fatal condition occurs almost entirely as a result of asbestos contact and generally doesn’t emerge until two to five decades following exposure. This frequently complicates and delays detection, diagnosis, and therapeutic interventions. The illness may present as pleural mesothelioma when it affects the cavity holding the lungs, peritoneal mesothelioma when involving the abdomen, or, rarely, pericardial mesothelioma that targets the heart’s protective covering or testicular mesothelioma that impacts the cavity holding the testes.
Pulmonary cancers and illnesses have also been linked to asbestos contact, with the risk of lung cancer dramatically escalating when cigarette smoking is also present. Asbestosis, a persistent respiratory ailment marked by ongoing scarring of lung tissue, often develops in those exposed to the toxic material and results in compromised breathing capacity and reduced pulmonary performance over time. Pleural disorders, including thickening and effusions, as well as other malignancies, have been connected to asbestos exposure through scientific studies, including tumors affecting the larynx, digestive tract, and various other bodily systems.
Resources for Veterans Who Served on the USS Sea Devil
Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits
The Department of Veterans Affairs provides comprehensive support and benefits programs for military veterans who experienced asbestos exposure during their military service. Available assistance includes:
Disability Compensation: Veterans who develop asbestos-related medical conditions may qualify for monthly disability payments based on their condition’s severity and the extent to which it has impacted their ability to perform day-to-day activities.
Specialized Medical Care: The VA has an excellent healthcare system capable of providing expert treatment for veterans with asbestos-related illnesses. Many are staffed by renowned specialists and offer the same advanced treatment options found in academic hospitals.
Family Support Services: The VA offers eligible veterans’ families access to the Veterans Community Care Program, which offers a wide range of counseling services, home healthcare support, and other invaluable programs.
The claims process for these benefits includes providing extensive documentation to establish that a veteran’s service and diagnosis meet the eligibility rules. Veterans need to prove the connection between their service activity and their diagnosis. To do so, they must submit:
- Medical evidence confirming an asbestos-related diagnosis
- Proof of asbestos exposure during military service
- A formal, written medical opinion from a physician or other qualified healthcare provider that links the condition to military exposure
There are VA facilities located all around the country, and many of them have oncology and pulmonary medicine departments and staff with the expertise needed to treat asbestos-related conditions and various cancer types, including mesothelioma.
Legal Options and Compensation
USS Sea Devil veterans may be eligible to pursue additional compensation beyond VA benefits. Depending upon the path you choose, this may require either completing an application process or pursuing legal action through the courts. Options include:
Product Liability and Negligence Claims: Veterans can file civil lawsuits against the manufacturers and distributors whose asbestos-containing products they were exposed to during their time of service, and the families of deceased veterans may also pursue wrongful death claims. The defendants named in these claims are generally private companies; though the government placed the orders for the contaminated equipment, it is immune from civil litigation.
Asbestos Trust Funds: Many asbestos product manufacturers and suppliers faced thousands of claims from victims exposed to their contaminated products, and as a result of their asbestos liabilities, were forced into bankruptcy. As part of their reorganization or liquidation process, most were required to establish special trust funds both for victims who’d already been diagnosed and had outstanding claims against them, and those who might be diagnosed in the future. Some companies chose to set up trusts voluntarily.
Contact a Mesothelioma Attorney to Get the Justice and Compensation You Deserve
Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases should consult an experienced asbestos litigation attorney who specializes in helping mesothelioma victims. These compassionate professionals will evaluate your case, answer all your questions, and explain the legal options available to you. They can identify all potential exposure sources and responsible parties, help you with the complex paperwork required to submit claims to the VA and the asbestos trust funds, and provide you with comprehensive representation designed to maximize the benefits and compensation you receive while minimizing stress and effort for you.
The legal process takes a significant amount of time and due diligence, and attorneys need as much time as possible to make sure they are providing you with the most effective representation possible, as well as to meet all mandated deadlines. Contact an asbestos attorney today to get a start on the compensation you need and deserve.
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