Did the U.S. Navy Use Asbestos in Submarines?
Yes, the United States Navy relied on asbestos in submarines for a good part of the 20th century. The Navy used asbestos to make the submarines fireproof, insulate them, and protect them from saltwater.
The military and the public were unaware of the dangers of this mineral as asbestos product manufacturers covered them up for decades.
When asbestos products are damaged during construction or repairs, they can release microscopic fibers.
Breathing in or swallowing asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma cancer 10-50 years later.
If you’re a veteran with mesothelioma from service-related asbestos exposure, you can file for medical and financial benefits with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). You can also pursue legal claims to get even more compensation.
Download our Free Veterans Compensation Guide for more details on how to file for VA benefits and financial compensation.
List of U.S. Navy Submarines With Asbestos Onboard
Nearly 400 submarines commissioned by the U.S. Navy contained asbestos through the early 1980s.
Examples of Navy submarines built with asbestos products include:
- USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72)
- USS Albacore (AGSS 569)
- USS Alexander Hamilton (SSBN 617)
- USS Andrew Jackson (SSBN 619)
- USS Argonaut (SS 166)
- USS Atule (SS 403)
- USS Balao (SS 285)
- USS Baltimore (SSN 704)
- USS Bumper (SS 333)
- USS Burrfish (SS/SSR 312)
- USS Cabezon (SS 334)
- USS Cabrilla (SS 288)
- USS Casimir Pulaski (SSBN 633)
- USS Catfish (SS 339)
- USS Dolphin (AGSS 555)
- USS Entemedor (SS 340)
- USS Escolar (SS 294)
- USS Finback (SSN 670)
- USS Flasher (SSN 613)
- USS Flier (SS 250)
- USS Flounder (SS 251)
- USS Flying Fish (SSN 673)
- USS Francis Scott Key (SSBN 657)
- USS Gabilan (SS 252)
- USS Gato (SSN 615)
- USS George Bancroft (SSBN 643)
- USS Haddo (SSN 604)
- USS Halibut (SSN 587)
- USS Hammerhead (SSN 663)
- USS Icefish (SS 367)
- USS Indianapolis (SSN 697)
- USS Irex (SS 482)
- USS James Madison (SSBN 627)
- USS Kamehameha (SSN 642)
- USS Kete (SS 369)
- USS Kingfish (SS 234)
- USS Kraken (SS 370)
- USS Lamprey (SS 372)
- USS Lancetfish (SS 296)
- USS Lewis and Clark (SSBN 644)
- USS Medregal (SS 480)
- USS Mero (SS 378)
- USS Michigan (SSGN 727)
- USS Mingo (SS 261)
- USS Moray (SS 300)
- USS Nautilus (SSN 571)
- USS New York City (SSN 696)
- USS Odax (SS 484)
- USS Omaha (SSN 692)
- USS Paddle (SS 263)
- USS Philadelphia (SSN 690)
- USS Queenfish (SSN 651)
- USS Quillback (SS 424)
- USS Rasher (SS 269)
- USS Raton (SS 270)
- USS Razorback (SS 394)
- USS S-1 (SS 105)
- USS S-10 (SS 115)
- USS S-13 (SS 118)
- USS Sailfish (SS 572)
- USS Salmon (SS 573)
- USS Snook (SSN 592)
- USS Spearfish (SS 190)
- USS Tautog (SSN 639)
- USS Tecumseh (SSBN 628)
- USS Tench (SS 417)
- USS V-3 (SF 6)
- USS V-4 (SM 1)
- USS Volador (SS 490)
- USS Von Steuben (SSBN 632)
- USS Will Rogers (SSBN 659)
- USS William H. Bates (SSN 680)
Is your boat listed above? You may have been exposed to asbestos during your service, but we can help. Call our team now at (866) 608-8933 to learn what you can do next — from getting a diagnosis to filing for VA benefits.
Who Was Put in Danger by Asbestos on Submarines?
Anyone stationed on Navy submarines from 1922 to the early 1980s could have been exposed to asbestos.
Because these naval vessels had poor ventilation, submariners could have easily swallowed or breathed in airborne asbestos fibers.
“Once asbestos fibers are disturbed and/or released into the environment, they can continuously be re-entrained into the air in confined spaces until they are removed or contained.”
– International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “Sailors and the Risk of Asbestos-Related Cancer,” 2021
The cramped quarters on submarines meant that microscopic asbestos fibers were released regularly as sailors bumped into the ship’s walls and walked the same stretches of flooring every day.
Navy sailors who were put in direct risk of asbestos exposure include:
- Boiler room workers
- Carpenters
- Electricians
- Insulators
- Mechanics
- Pipefitters
- Plumbers
- Welders
Families were also put at risk if they came into contact with asbestos fibers on their loved ones’ uniforms, tools, or equipment. This is called secondhand asbestos exposure.
Shipyard Workers and Asbestos on Submarines
An estimated 4.5 million people worked in shipyards during World War II, many of whom spent time working on Navy submarines.
Shipyard workers who helped build, repair, or demolish U.S. Navy submarines are also at high risk of developing mesothelioma and other cancers.
“In some cases, asbestos-induced changes in the lung were detected in the X-rays of over 50% of the shipyard workforce.”
– Dr. Richard A. Lemen, former U.S. Assistant Surgeon General
Financial help is available if you were exposed to asbestos on Navy submarines at sea or in shipyards. Download our Free Veterans Compensation Guide to see what you may be eligible for.
Asbestos Products on Navy Submarines
Several asbestos-containing products were used on Navy submarines for much of the 20th century. Sailors and shipyard workers handled these products nearly every day.
Asbestos products that could be found on submarines include:
- Boiler lining
- Fireproofing materials
- Gaskets
- Insulation
- Pipes
- Sealants and paint
- Tape and adhesives
- Valves
Asbestos was also used in some Navy sailors’ protective equipment. For example, fireproof asbestos clothing and gloves were vital for those in boiler rooms, engine rooms, and other high-temperature areas.
Sadly, the Navy’s use of asbestos materials to build and repair submarines put millions of service members and their families at risk of mesothelioma and other serious diseases.
In fact, one-third of all mesothelioma cases can be linked back to Navy service or shipyard work.
History of Asbestos in Submarines
In 1922, the U.S. Navy listed asbestos as a required building material for new submarines, in tape, packing, gaskets, and insulation. Its lightweight, heat-resistant, and anti-corrosive nature made it an asset for these small, cramped vessels.
With the start of World War II in 1939, the Navy began stockpiling asbestos for the war effort and used it in every submarine.
Many classifications of submarines relied on asbestos, including:
- Attack submarines (SSK)
- Auxiliary submarines (AGSS)
- Ballistic missile submarines (SSBN)
- Conventional propulsion submarines (SS)
- Fleet submarines (SF)
- Guided missile submarines (SSGN)
- Minelayer submarines (SM)
- Nuclear-powered submarines (SSN)
- Radar picket submarines (SSR)
Today, Navy submarines are constructed using safer materials and methods to protect the health and well-being of their crews.
Compensation & Benefits for Veterans Exposed to Asbestos
Any Navy veteran who served or worked on a submarine before the early 1980s was put at risk of developing asbestos-related illnesses and could be eligible for VA benefits and financial compensation.
Learn more about compensation and benefits for veterans with mesothelioma below.
VA Benefits
VA benefits for mesothelioma include monthly disability payouts, access to free or affordable treatment through the VA health care system, and financial compensation to the immediate family of affected veterans.
Married veterans with mesothelioma can get $4,044.91 in monthly compensation from the VA since this diagnosis is almost always granted a 100% disability rating.
Additional VA benefits are available for Navy veterans who have dependent children or require a full-time caregiver’s help.
Asbestos Trust Funds
Asbestos trust funds are established by manufacturers of asbestos-containing products who file for bankruptcy or go out of business to avoid being sued.
If you were exposed to asbestos on submarines while serving in the Navy, you may be able to file claims with multiple trusts. More than $30 billion is available across 60+ active asbestos trust funds as of 2025.
Our legal partners can help you access some of this money and file trust fund claims on your behalf. See if you qualify right now.
Mesothelioma Lawsuits
Legal claims are filed against the companies that manufactured asbestos products and supplied them to the U.S. Navy.
Nearly all mesothelioma lawsuits are settled out of court, with victims and their families receiving between $1 million and $1.4 million on average.
Notable mesothelioma Navy settlements include:
- $6.66 million for a U.S. Navy electronics technician in Texas
- $2.8 million to the family of a Texas woman who died from mesothelioma and whose father worked as a carpenter on Navy submarines
- $1.93 million for a Connecticut Navy veteran who served on the USS Will Rogers
- $1.63 million for a Massachusetts U.S. Navy veteran with pleural mesothelioma who served as an engine room operator and fireman on the USS Skate
You can still receive VA benefits while pursuing a mesothelioma lawsuit, and no legal action is taken against the military.
We Can Help Veterans Exposed to Asbestos on Submarines
U.S. Navy veterans who served before the 1980s may have been exposed to asbestos on submarines. This puts them at an increased risk of developing serious illnesses like mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma Hope is committed to helping U.S. veterans with mesothelioma get VA benefits, medical care, and financial compensation after a diagnosis.
Your service to the nation is deeply appreciated, and we’re here to ensure you receive the support you deserve.
Call (866) 608-8933 now or download your Free Veterans Compensation Guide to get started.
Asbestos in Submarines FAQs
Is there asbestos on submarines?
Many asbestos-containing products were used on submarines for decades before the early 1980s though. Asbestos made the vessels more resistant to heat, water, and corrosion.
Once the health dangers of asbestos were made public, steps were taken to remove asbestos-based products from Navy submarines and other military assets.
What are the health issues with submariners?
One of the most notable health issues to affect submariners who served in the U.S. Navy is mesothelioma.
This cancer develops 10-50 years after asbestos exposure. Between the 1930s and early 1980s, hundreds of submarines were built with mesothelioma.
Other health issues that Navy submariners could face as a result of asbestos exposure include lung cancer and asbestosis.
Call (866) 608-8933 now for help exploring military benefits and other resources if you have mesothelioma after serving on a submarine.
Do Navy ships still have asbestos?
No active submarines contain asbestos today, according to a review of the Naval Vessel Register.
However, nearly 400 Navy submarines contained asbestos from the 1920s until the early 1980s.
The military stopped using asbestos products to build submarines after this period.
Did other U.S. Navy ships besides submarines use asbestos?
Yes, many U.S. Navy ships besides submarines used asbestos for insulation, fireproofing, and other applications.
Asbestos could also be found in:
- Aircraft carriers
- Battleships
- Cruisers
- Destroyers
- Frigates
- Minesweepers
- Other Navy vessels
If you or a family member served on a Navy ship and are now suffering from mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, you may qualify for financial compensation. Contact our Patient Advocates today to see what steps you can take.
Can you get VA disability for asbestos exposure?
Yes, you can get disability benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for asbestos-related conditions if you are a veteran who was exposed to asbestos during your military service.
To be eligible for VA disability compensation, you need to have an asbestos-related illness — such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, or lung cancer — and provide evidence that the exposure occurred during your military service.
Mesothelioma Hope can help you gather information needed to file for disability and ensure your claim is processed as quickly as possible.
We can also help you increase your existing VA disability payouts after a mesothelioma diagnosis. Call our team at (866) 608-8933 now to get started.
How We Can Help
