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Albacore-iiSource: Wikimedia Commons — public domain (U.S. Navy photograph)
Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Albacore (SS-218) was a Gato-class submarine that served in the Pacific Theater during World War II, conducting eight war patrols from August 1942 through November 1944. She was credited with sinking 13 Japanese vessels, including the light cruiser Tenryū and aircraft carrier Taihō, holding the distinction of sinking the highest warship tonnage of any U.S. submarine. The vessel was lost on 7 November 1944, probably sunk by a mine near the Tsugaru Strait, and was posthumously awarded the Presidential Unit Citation and nine battle stars.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut
Laid down
1941-04-21
Launched
1942-02-17
Commissioned
1942-06-01
Notable Tours / Service Eras
WWII Pacific Theater 1942-1944
Combat Actions
First War Patrol· 1942-08 Combat patrol near Truk
Sinking of Tenryū· 1942-12 Sank light cruiser
Third War Patrol· 1943-02 Sank destroyer and frigate
Sinking of Heijo Maru· 1943-09 Sank auxiliary gunboat
Sinking of Kenzan Maru· 1943-11 Sank transport
Sinking of Choko Maru· 1944-01 Sank vessel
Sinking of Sazanami· 1944-01 Sank destroyer
Home Ports & Forward Bases
Pearl Harbor — departure point for war patrols
Midway Island — refit base
Brisbane, Australia — major refit and overhaul base
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
Midway Island· 1942-10 refit
Brisbane· 1943-03 overhaul
Brisbane· 1943-05 refit
Brisbane· 1943-06 refit
Asbestos rip-out, insulation replacement, and gasket-packing work occurred during these yard periods. Sailors aboard during overhauls had peak exposure to airborne asbestos fiber.
Notable Incidents
8 November 1943 — bombed by friendly Fifth Air Force aircraft north of Mussau Island; no damage sustained
10 November 1943 — bombed by friendly Fifth Air Force four-engine bomber in St. George's Channel; considerable damage; total darkness and flooding but recovered and continued patrol
Final Disposition
Sunk by mine 7 November 1944 near Tsugaru Strait
USS Albacore (SS-218) is a documented U.S. Navy submarine. The equipment reference below was extracted from the publicly-available Wikipedia article on this vessel, which cites the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS) — the U.S. Navy’s official ship-history publication maintained by the Naval History and Heritage Command.
Equipment Reference
Equipment Manifest — USS Albacore (SS-218). 3 machinery/equipment entries identified through ship-specific BUSHIPS documentation. Manufacturers in bold link to documented asbestos-product history on AsbestosIndex.com.
Equipment
Manufacturer
Qty
Notes
Diesel engines
General Motors
4
Fleet-boat-propulsion-early-GM-4-GE template indicates 4 GM diesels per Wikipedia infobox
Fleet-boat-propulsion-early-GM-4-GE template indicates 4 GE electric motors per Wikipedia infobox
20 mm cannon
Oerlikon
1
New Oerlikon 20 mm cannon installed prior to second patrol in November 1942
Source: this equipment reference was extracted from public Wikipedia/DANFS records for USS Albacore (SS-218). These are secondary-source records — not primary BUSHIPS design documents. For litigation purposes, this data is a starting point; a ship-specific BUSHIPS Material Inspection Report or commissioning book would provide gold-standard verification.
The asbestos-containing products documented on U.S. Navy vessels and at shipyards are catalogued by manufacturer on AsbestosIndex. These records cross-reference which companies supplied which materials and to which facilities.
Navy Ratings Most Exposed to Asbestos Aboard Albacore
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the public asbestos litigation record document that the following Navy ratings worked routinely in spaces where ACM was installed, maintained, ripped out, and replaced:
Fireman (FN) — engineering-plant tending across boiler and engine rooms
VA Presumptive Benefits — No Filing Deadline
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural disease as conditions presumed to be service-connected for Navy veterans with documented asbestos exposure under 38 CFR § 3.309(d). No statute of limitations applies to VA disability compensation claims.
Available benefits may include monthly disability compensation, Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses, priority VA healthcare enrollment, and Special Monthly Compensation for severe cases. Parallel claims against the asbestos bankruptcy trust funds established by the manufacturers of these products do not reduce VA compensation.
How to file a VA disability claim: VA claims are filed directly with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — not with a law firm. Start at VA.gov › Hazardous Materials Exposure, call 1‑800‑827‑1000, or get free help filing from a Veterans Service Organization: DAV, VFW, or American Legion.
Source notes: equipment-manifest entries (where shown) are sourced from public-record BUSHIPS (Bureau of Ships) documentation, NARA archives, and the public asbestos litigation record. Manufacturer attributions link to documented asbestos-product histories on AsbestosIndex.com where available. Nothing on this page constitutes medical or legal advice.
Documented Asbestos-Exposure Environments — U.S. Navy Service
Public-domain U.S. Navy photographs illustrating the engineering spaces, ratings, and yard environments where asbestos materials were routinely encountered during normal duty.
All images are public domain (U.S. Government works). Specific photographs depict generic Navy engineering and yard environments — not the named vessel above. Asbestos materials shown or implied include pipe lagging, boiler insulation, steam-line covering, and gasket / packing materials standard on U.S. Navy vessels through the early 1980s.
Albacore SS-218 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Albacore SS-218 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Albacore SS-218 is documented in the public U.S. Navy asbestos litigation record. U.S. Navy vessels of her service era were built to BUSHIPS specifications that required asbestos insulation throughout engineering spaces, on steam lines, around boilers and turbines, and in gasket and packing materials.
Which shipboard components on Albacore SS-218 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Albacore SS-218's era include: boiler insulation and lagging, steam-line pipe insulation, turbine and reduction-gear casings, valve packing, gaskets, brake and clutch friction materials, electrical wire insulation, overhead pipe coverings in berthing and mess spaces, and Navy-issue boiler cement and refractory in fireboxes.
What ratings were exposed to asbestos serving on Albacore SS-218?
Navy ratings with the highest documented asbestos exposure include Machinist's Mate (MM), Boiler Technician (BT), Hull Maintenance Technician (HT), Engineman (EN), Electrician's Mate (EM), Interior Communications Electrician (IC), Damage Controlman (DC), and Pipefitter / Shipfitter. Officers in engineering departments also encountered asbestos in normal duty. Shipyard workers performing overhaul, repair, or refit work had concentrated exposure during yard periods.
What equipment manufacturers are documented on Albacore SS-218?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Albacore SS-218 include: General Electric, General Motors, Oerlikon. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Albacore SS-218 veterans qualify for VA disability for mesothelioma?
Yes. Mesothelioma is recognized by the VA as service-connected for veterans with documented Navy service and qualifying asbestos exposure. Albacore SS-218 veterans (or surviving family) typically file at VA.gov, by phone at 1-800-827-1000, or with assistance from a Veterans Service Officer through DAV, VFW, or American Legion. Civil claims against asbestos product manufacturers are separate from VA benefits — many veterans pursue both paths.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this site. References to ships, shipyards, companies, products, and asbestos-containing materials are drawn from public VA records, NARA archives, EPA/OSHA databases, and public litigation records. All references reflect what has been documented or alleged in publicly filed records. Consult a licensed physician for medical guidance and a qualified attorney for legal advice regarding your specific situation.
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