The USS Ulysses S. Grant (SSBN-631) served the United States Navy from 1964 to 1992. The vessel exemplified the “41 for Freedom” ballistic missile submarine program that formed the backbone of America’s nuclear triad during the Cold War. Despite its many successes, the asbestos contamination onboard the Ulysses S. Grant put hundreds of naval personnel at heightened risk of developing mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and other life-threatening conditions related to asbestos exposure.
Overview of the USS Ulysses S. Grant and James Madison-Class Submarines
Named after Civil War General and 18th President Ulysses S. Grant, this vessel was one of ten James Madison-class submarines built by Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, as part of the Navy’s “41 for Freedom” strategic deterrent force.[1] The James Madison-class submarines represented an evolutionary step forward from their predecessors, the Lafayette-class nuclear-powered strategic missile platforms. Their enhanced capabilities were developed in the early 1960s.[2]
The Ulysses S. Grant and her sister vessels were similar to the Lafayette-class submarines, but were designed to carry the more advanced Polaris A-3 missile instead of the earlier A-2. Four James Madison-class submarines, including Ulysses S. Grant, Daniel Boone, Tecumseh, and Stonewall Jackson, initially served in the Pacific Fleet, while the remaining six operated in the Atlantic.
The submarines measured 425 feet in length with a 33-foot beam and a draft of 31 feet 4 inches. They displaced 7,300 tons when surfaced and 8,250 tons submerged and, while submerged, could achieve speeds exceeding 20 knots, powered by Westinghouse S5W nuclear reactors generating 15,000 shaft horsepower. Their strategic armament consisted of 16 missile tubes for ballistic missiles, plus four 21-inch torpedo tubes forward. The vessels operated with alternating Blue and Gold crews totaling approximately 140 personnel each.
Early History of the USS Ulysses S. Grant
Construction of the Ulysses S. Grant began with the contract being awarded to Electric Boat in July 1961. Her keel was laid in August 1962, and she was launched in November 1963, sponsored by Mrs. David W. Griffiths of Arlington, Virginia, a great-granddaughter of President Grant. The commissioning ceremony took place in July 1964, with Captain J.L. From Jr. commanding the Blue Crew.[1]
After her commissioning and shakedown, the submarine left Groton in early December 1964, headed for the Pacific Ocean. She transited the Panama Canal and arrived at Pearl Harbor in January 1965. Commander C.A.K. McDonald assumed command of the Gold Crew in September 1964.
Pacific Operations and a Strategic Deterrent Mission
The Ulysses S. Grant was deployed to Guam in the Mariana Islands in late 1964 and arrived in 1965. Equipped with Polaris ballistic missiles, she conducted 18 deterrent patrols and established a standard operational pattern of alternating Blue and Gold crew rotations. Each three-month patrol cycle allowed one crew to conduct strategic deterrent missions while the other crew remained ashore for rest, training, and maintenance preparation at Pearl Harbor and other Pacific bases. The vessel returned to the United States in 1970.
Weapons System Upgrades and Atlantic Fleet Operations
In the early 1970s, all James Madison-class submarines were modified to carry the more advanced Poseidon C-3 missile system. After completing her Pacific service, the Ulysses S. Grant underwent this overhaul and conversion at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, and then was deployed to Holy Loch, Scotland, where it conducted strategic deterrent patrols in the waters off Europe. This arrangement changed with the deployment of Poseidon missiles scheduled for March 1971: All Pacific-based submarines were shifted to the Atlantic Fleet, and Poseidon deployment was completed in the James Madison class by April 1972. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, six of the Ulysses S. Grant’s sister submarines were further modified to carry the Trident I C-4 missile system, but the Grant was among four submarines in the class that did not receive the Trident upgrade. These four vessels continued to operate with the Poseidon system throughout the remainder of their service lives.[2]
Later Service and Final Operations
The Ulysses S. Grant continued strategic deterrent operations from Holy Loch throughout the 1970s and 1980s, maintaining the critical underwater nuclear deterrent mission during the height of the Cold War. Her crews earned recognition for operational excellence and contributed significantly to the Navy’s strategic deterrent capability.
In April 1987, the submarine suffered a tragedy when two crewmen were swept off of her missile deck during heavy seas three miles off Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Lieutenant David Jimenez of Groton, Connecticut, was rescued but pronounced dead shortly afterward. Chief Torpedoman’s Mate Larry Thompson of Concord, California, remained lost at sea.[1]
Decommissioning and End of Service
In compliance with the joint U.S./Soviet START Treaty, the USS Ulysses S. Grant was slated for deactivation and decommissioned in June 1992. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on the same day, and her disposal was completed through the Nuclear-Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program at Bremerton in 1993.
The Military’s Asbestos Integration During the Cold War
Throughout the Cold War period, the U.S. Navy continued its practice of extensively integrating asbestos materials into its vessels’ construction. Though today we know that the mineral is carcinogenic, that information had not reached the military during the years that America was focused on the Cold War threat. What was known about asbestos was that it provided exceptional thermal insulation, fire resistance, and chemical stability properties. Military engineers considered these characteristics essential for Navy submarines, which had confined spaces and nuclear propulsion that created extreme environmental conditions requiring superior fire protection and thermal management.
The USS Ulysses S. Grant was built at this time of peak naval asbestos usage. It wasn’t until 1973 that the Navy began restricting use of the toxic material. Though it had substantially eliminated it by 1975, existing materials in operational vessels remained in place until maintenance required their removal, and because asbestos was so heavily integrated into the fleet, in some cases, it was never addressed at all, as Navy management determined that the enormous project would be too time-consuming and too expensive. Instead, extensive protocols were put in place, including material surveys, personnel training, and safe handling procedures. Though well-intentioned, these procedures likely did little to protect crew members who continued being exposed during their time of service on the vessel.
Asbestos Distribution Throughout the USS Ulysses S. Grant
Standard naval engineering processes meant that the Ulysses S. Grant had asbestos materials integrated into virtually every one of its systems and compartments. This extensive presence reflected a mandate that asbestos-containing products be used wherever thermal protection, electrical insulation, or fire suppression was necessary. These included:
- Weapons Systems and Missile Compartments
The submarine’s Polaris A-3 and later Poseidon C-3 strategic missile systems required extensive fire protection and thermal insulation throughout the missile compartment, and so were fortified with asbestos materials around launch tubes, guidance equipment, and support systems. The vessel’s torpedo systems and defensive weapons similarly featured asbestos components for safety and operational reliability. Standard maintenance supplies, including gaskets, sealing materials, and repair compounds used to build the compartments did as well.
- Electrical and Control Systems
The submarine’s operations relied on sophisticated electrical networks, and asbestos was incorporated into their cable insulation, junction boxes, control panels, and switching equipment. The vessel’s advanced fire control systems, navigation equipment, sonar arrays, and communication systems also contained asbestos-based components for thermal and electrical protection, and emergency electrical systems and backup power distribution networks similarly relied on asbestos-containing materials for safety and operational reliability.
- Nuclear Propulsion and Engineering Systems
The submarine’s reactor compartment, engine room, and auxiliary machinery spaces contained extensive asbestos insulation surrounding steam systems, cooling circuits, and propulsion components. The Westinghouse S5W reactor plant and associated steam generation systems were heavily insulated with asbestos-containing materials to protect personnel and equipment from extreme temperatures and the equipment from the impact of friction and heat. Critical piping systems were wrapped with asbestos-containing blankets and protective coverings or had asbestos spray applied to them. Essential valves, pumps, and mechanical connections contained asbestos gaskets, packing materials, and sealing compounds to prevent leaks and maintain system pressure integrity.
- Crew Living and Working Areas
Berthing compartments, mess facilities, and general working spaces were contaminated with asbestos hidden in deck tiles, bulkhead materials, overhead panels, and protective coatings. Crew members were surrounded by asbestos-containing materials, and ventilation systems that provided life support throughout the confined submarine environment contained asbestos insulation and filtration components that could release fibers into the air circulation networks, both during normal operation and from fibers disturbed following maintenance activities.
The confined nature of submarine architecture meant that asbestos materials integrated into widely dispersed spaces created pervasive, inescapable exposure hazards.
Personnel at Risk of Asbestos Exposure
The USS Ulysses S. Grant had a 28-year service life, and during that time, every individual who served on her faced relentless asbestos exposure due to the presence of asbestos-containing materials throughout the submarine. The vessel’s sealed environment and limited ventilation systems presented unique exposure dangers as its air was continuously recycled, no matter what contaminants it contained. Extended patrol periods lasting several months meant crew members lived and worked in this dangerous environment for prolonged periods, significantly increasing their cumulative exposure and health risks.
Certain crew members faced elevated exposure levels based on where they worked and what their duties were. Those at particular risk included:
- Engineering and Nuclear Personnel: Reactor operators, nuclear technicians, and engineering specialists worked directly with heavily insulated nuclear propulsion systems, regularly cutting, grinding, or removing asbestos-containing insulation, gaskets, and system components around the reactor plant and steam generation systems.
- Electronics and Communications Technicians: Personnel responsible for electrical systems, radar, sonar, and communication equipment frequently disturbed asbestos materials in control systems, power distribution networks, and electronic equipment housings.
- Missile and Weapons Specialists: Missile technicians, fire control specialists, and weapons personnel’s duties for both the Polaris and Poseidon missile systems involved servicing launch systems, guidance equipment, and support machinery that contained asbestos components.
- General Maintenance Personnel: Machinery repairmen, hull technicians, and damage control personnel conducted routine maintenance, emergency repairs, and system modifications in multiple compartments that contained asbestos-containing equipment and structural components.
Even crew members who had no direct contact with maintenance work faced significant exposure through the asbestos-contaminated uniforms worn by shipmates, shared ventilation systems, and the presence of asbestos materials in living and recreational areas. The submarine’s compact design made it inevitable that asbestos fibers disturbed in any location could be carried or circulated throughout the entire vessel.
Severe Health Consequences of Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos exposure creates devastating health risks that typically remain dormant for decades before manifesting as serious illnesses. Once microscopic asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested, they can become permanently lodged in lung tissue, pleural membranes, and other organs, triggering chronic inflammation and cellular damage that can eventually develop into cancer and other fatal conditions.
The most severe asbestos-related illness is mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. Despite the best efforts of researchers and physicians, the extremely rare disease has an extremely poor prognosis; most patients survive just 12 to 21 months after being diagnosed. Symptoms include severe chest pain, breathing difficulties, persistent cough, and abdominal swelling.
Lung cancer risks increase dramatically following asbestos exposure, particularly when combined with tobacco use. Asbestos-related lung cancer may not appear until 15 to 35 years after exposure and presents symptoms similar to other lung cancer types, including chronic cough, chest pain, and respiratory distress.
Asbestosis is a chronic, progressive, non-malignant lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos particles. The inflammation caused by the presence of the toxic fibers leads to scarring that makes breathing extremely difficult. Symptoms include increasingly severe breathing problems, persistent cough, and chest pain.
There are many other disabling asbestos-related conditions, including pleural plaques, pleural effusions, and diffuse pleural thickening. While typically not fatal, these conditions affect lung function and cause breathing difficulties and chest pain that significantly reduce quality of life. Frequently, their presence is a warning sign that more serious asbestos-related diseases may arise in the future.
Support, Care, and Legal Options for USS Ulysses S. Grant Veterans Affected by Asbestos
Many Navy veterans who served aboard the USS Ulysses S. Grant have received diagnoses of asbestos-related illnesses. These outcomes are a result of the failure — and at times, willful refusal — of asbestos manufacturers and distributors to provide adequate health warnings. Veterans who served on this submarine and who’ve been diagnosed with asbestos-related conditions have multiple places to turn, with some providing support, some providing specialized medical treatment and care, and some providing compensation. Extensive legal precedents established through thousands of successful cases, combined with official government acknowledgment of naval asbestos exposure, have provided clear pathways through which affected veterans can pursue justice.
Benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs
The VA provides both medical and financial support for veterans with service-connected asbestos-related conditions. Those diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis can file claims for disability compensation, specialized medical care, and additional family benefits. The VA has recognized mesothelioma as a presumptive service-connected condition for veterans with documented military asbestos exposure linked to their illness. This expedites the claims process and has established mesothelioma’s designation as 100% disabling, ensuring maximum compensation levels.
Civil Legal Action
Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases may be eligible to pursue legal claims against private manufacturers and suppliers of asbestos-containing products used in submarine construction and maintenance. While direct litigation against the Navy or federal government is prohibited, veterans can seek compensation from commercial entities. Successful litigation frequently results in significant settlements or jury awards covering medical costs, income loss, pain and suffering, and other damages. Thousands of successful cases have been resolved against companies that produced insulation, gaskets, valves, pumps, and other asbestos-containing materials used aboard submarines like the USS Ulysses S. Grant.
Asbestos Compensation Trust Funds
Asbestos trust funds have provided a crucial compensation source for affected veterans. Companies that manufactured asbestos products were often required to establish these funds during bankruptcy proceedings. Designed specifically to compensate future victims of asbestos-related diseases, these funds have distributed billions of dollars in compensation and maintain over $30 billion for claims that continue to be filed and will be filed in the future. Trust funds offer an appealing alternative to extended litigation processes. Though the compensation provided is generally less than what juries award, the road to receiving funds is notably shorter and less stressful.
Legal Counsel and Advocacy for USS Ulysses S. Grant Veterans
Veterans diagnosed with asbestos-related conditions should prioritize consultation with experienced asbestos litigation attorneys. These lawyers specialize in both occupational and military exposure cases and have expertise in both managing the unique challenges of documenting naval service exposure and identifying all potentially liable parties and available compensation sources. Their help includes developing comprehensive legal strategies as well as providing assistance with VA benefit applications, minimizing stress on affected veterans and their families while maximizing available compensation.
It’s important for mesothelioma victims and their families to know that there are strict time limitations for filing personal injury claims, and this makes it essential to seek legal help as soon as possible after diagnosis. The more time your attorney has, the more effectively they can gather service records, medical documentation, and other critical evidence needed to build a compelling case. With appropriate legal representation, veterans who developed illnesses after serving aboard the USS Ulysses S. Grant can access the full range of benefits and compensation they deserve.
References
View All References
