The USS Witek (DD-848) was a Gearing-class destroyer built as World War II was coming to a close. Though designed for war, the vessel served the United States Navy for more than two decades as a specialized experimental platform for antisubmarine warfare technology development. Despite its notable mission, the Witek exposed hundreds of sailors and others who maintained the ship to an elevated risk of mesothelioma due to asbestos contained within its structure and equipment.
History of the USS Witek
The Ship’s Namesake
The USS Witek was named in honor of Marine Private First Class Frank Peter Witek, a Connecticut native who demonstrated extraordinary valor during the Battle of Guam in August 1944. When Witek’s rifle platoon was met by heavy fire from a well-camouflaged enemy positions, he remained to fire a full magazine at the depression where Japanese troops hid, allowing many in his platoon to take cover. When the platoon withdrew, he remained to stay with a wounded comrade, returning the enemy’s fire until stretcher bearers arrived. He then covered the evacuation as he moved backward toward his own lines. When his platoon was again met by hostile machine gun, he moved forward, alternately throwing hand grenades and firing as he advanced to the enemy position and destroyed the machine-gun emplacement and an additional eight Japanese troops before being struck down by an enemy rifleman. His actions during earned him a posthumous Medal of Honor.[1]
Early Years
Construction of the destroyer began at Bath Iron Works in Maine during July 1945, just as the Second World War drew to a close. The vessel left the yard in February 1946, with Private Witek’s mother serving as sponsor for the launching ceremony, and officially entered Navy service in April 1946, under Commander Nels C. Johnson’s leadership.[1]
Displacing 3,460 tons with a length exceeding 390 feet, the USS Witek possessed capabilities typical of Gearing-class destroyers. The vessel could achieve speeds of 35 knots and maintain a range of 4,500 nautical miles. Its complement included 336 officers and enlisted personnel who worked in close quarters throughout the ship’s compartments and machinery spaces.
Service History and Operations
Unlike most destroyers of its class, after commissioning, the USS Witek was almost immediately redesignated as EDD-848, an indication of its transition into an experimental development destroyer, a specialized role that it fulfilled throughout its entire service life.
Following initial shakedown operations in Cuban waters during summer 1946, the destroyer was assigned to New London, Connecticut, as its permanent home port in December of that year. The USS Witek served in a unique role, testing cutting-edge antisubmarine warfare systems and equipment. The ship’s experimental work kept it primarily along the Atlantic coastline, operating between Narragansett Bay and the Virginia Capes, with occasional ventures to Key West and throughout the Caribbean. Unlike sister ships that deployed to the Mediterranean or Western Pacific, the USS Witek concentrated on technological development rather than traditional naval operations.
The USS Witek (DD-848) made significant contributions to antisubmarine warfare technology development during its 22 years of naval service. The destroyer’s experimental work advanced capabilities that enhanced fleet effectiveness throughout the Cold War era. However, the vessel’s construction and operations during the decades when asbestos use was standard naval practice created lasting health consequences for crew members.
Distinctive Modifications
To accommodate the experimental equipment needed to fulfill its mission, the Witek underwent several unusual alterations. In 1948, the vessel traveled to San Diego for six months to test sonar equipment that had previously been installed in the German heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen.[1] Naval technicians removed the ship’s second twin 5-inch gun mount, replacing it with what crew members described as a “house-trailer full” of German electronics gear. This modification gave the USS Witek a distinctly unconventional appearance compared to standard Gearing-class destroyers.
The ship received another significant upgrade in 1958 when it entered Boston Naval Shipyard for installation of an experimental “pump jet” propulsion system. Fitting this advanced technology put the destroyer in drydock for nearly six months, after which the vessel tested the equipment under real-world conditions for years afterward.
Notable Incidents
Despite its focus on experimentation and research, the USS Witek occasionally needed to demonstrate that it was capable of traditional naval activities. In October 1954, while visiting Nassau in the Bahamas, the destroyer responded to a massive warehouse fire that was threatening the colonial capital. One hundred forty sailors rushed ashore with 3,000 feet of fire hose, breathing apparatus, and portable pumps. Working alongside local emergency responders for two hours, the crew helped prevent what officials described as potentially the most catastrophic fire in the colony’s history.
The destroyer also participated in the Cuban Missile Blockade during October 1962, contributing to the naval quarantine that helped resolve one of the Cold War’s most dangerous confrontations.
Asbestos Throughout the USS Witek
Exposure to asbestos posed a serious and constant threat to USS Witek personnel throughout the ship’s operational years. Naval architects had incorporated asbestos-containing materials extensively in the destroyer’s construction because the mineral’s heat resistance and insulating properties made it seemingly ideal for shipboard applications. The USS Witek’s experimental mission kept most crew members serving extended periods in confined spaces filled with asbestos-containing equipment. Unlike sailors who rotated through multiple ships, many USS Witek personnel spent years aboard this single vessel, intensifying their cumulative exposure to dangerous fibers.
- Engine rooms aboard the USS Witek contained some of the highest concentrations of asbestos materials. The destroyer’s propulsion system generated tremendous heat, requiring extensive insulation around boilers, steam lines, and turbines. Pipes and other machinery were wrapped with asbestos lagging to prevent burns and maintain operational temperatures, and gaskets, valve packing, and pump components similarly incorporated the mineral’s deadly fibers.
- For the ship’s firefighting systems, asbestos materials were considered essential to crew safety. Fire-resistant bulkheads, cable insulation, and damage control equipment all contained the mineral. Personnel working in machinery spaces, damage control parties, and engineering divisions faced particularly high exposure risks during routine maintenance and emergency repairs.
- Because the mineral’s resistance to electrical current made it a preferred material for preventing electrical fires aboard naval vessels, electrical systems throughout the USS Witek utilized asbestos in wiring insulation, junction boxes, and circuit breakers. Electricians and electronics technicians regularly handled these components during installations, repairs, and upgrades.
- Living and working spaces featured asbestos in deck tiles, wall panels, and overhead insulation. The mineral appeared in mess decks, berthing compartments, and officer’s quarters. Even routine activities like walking through passageways could disturb asbestos fibers embedded in deck covering materials.
High-Risk Positions Aboard the USS Witek
The USS Witek’s experimental mission kept most crew members serving extended periods in confined spaces filled with asbestos-containing equipment. Unlike sailors who rotated through multiple ships, many USS Witek personnel spent years aboard this single vessel, intensifying their cumulative exposure to dangerous fibers.
Certain ratings and job specialties aboard the destroyer faced elevated mesothelioma risks due to their regular contact with asbestos materials:
- Engineering Personnel worked continuously around asbestos-insulated machinery and piping systems. Boiler technicians, machinists, and engine room personnel encountered the mineral daily, especially during maintenance operations.
- Hull Technicians and Damage Controlmen handled asbestos-containing firefighting equipment and performed repairs to insulated systems throughout the vessel. Their duties frequently required removing and replacing asbestos materials.
- Electricians and Electronics Technicians installed and maintained wiring systems incorporating asbestos insulation. The ship’s experimental electronics equipment, pulled from the German ship, may also have contained asbestos components.
- Pipefitters and Machinery Repairmen worked directly with asbestos gaskets, packing materials, and insulated piping during overhauls and routine maintenance periods.
- Shipfitters and Welders cut through bulkheads and structures containing asbestos during the vessel’s multiple modification periods, particularly during the pump jet installation and electronics equipment changes.
Compensation and Legal Support for Witek Veterans Diagnosed with Mesothelioma
VA Claims
Veterans who developed mesothelioma following service aboard the USS Witek may qualify for a series of benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs. The connection between their military asbestos exposure and subsequent disease diagnosis entitles those affected to specialized medical care, disability compensation, and other support services.
To access these benefits, eligible veterans should file claims with the VA documenting their shipboard service and mesothelioma diagnosis. The documentation needed to prove these claims approved includes medical evidence establishing the disease, as well as service records confirming duty and asbestos exposure aboard the USS Witek.
If a veteran has died of mesothelioma, their surviving family members can submit similar documents that qualify them for dependency and indemnity compensation. Spouses, dependent children, and parents should explore all the benefits available through the VA system.
Personal Injury Lawsuits
Beyond the government benefits they’re entitled to, veterans exposed to asbestos aboard the USS Witek may be eligible to pursue legal claims against manufacturers who supplied asbestos products to the Navy. Most of these companies knew or should have known about asbestos dangers but failed to warn military personnel about the health risks created by exposure to the toxic mineral. Successful legal action can provide compensation separate from and in addition to VA benefits that will help cover medical expenses, lost income, and other damages and provide future security for their families.
Asbestos Compensation Trust Funds
Many of the manufacturers and suppliers of asbestos-containing products have been forced into bankruptcy as a result of thousands of claims filed against them by victims of their negligence. Dozens of these companies were required to establish compensation trusts for the benefit of those diagnosed in the future. Collectively, these funds contain billions of dollars set aside to compensate these victims, including veterans. Though each trust has its own criteria and process, claims generally require documentation of when and how asbestos exposure occurred during service and a medical diagnosis confirming a link to that exposure.
While the compensation available from an asbestos trust fund is typically less than what can be obtained through a successful lawsuit, the process offers the advantage of being both faster and much less adversarial.
Legal Help for USS Witek Veterans
Specialized mesothelioma attorneys understand the unique circumstances of naval asbestos exposure. These legal professionals can identify responsible manufacturers, gather evidence of shipboard asbestos use, and pursue maximum compensation for affected veterans and their families.
Time limits called statutes of limitations apply to all legal claims, including personal injury lawsuits. This makes prompt action essential for veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma. Consulting with experienced attorneys helps ensure that individuals affected by asbestos understand their legal rights and options.
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