USS Angler (SS-240) — Equipment Reference & Asbestos Exposure Record
Equipment reference and asbestos exposure record for USS Angler (SS-240). 2 machinery and manufacturer entries from the public Wikipedia article citing...
By Rights Watch Media Group LLC•June 6, 2026•1 min read
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USS Angler (SSK-240) underway c1955Source: Wikimedia Commons — public domain (U.S. Navy photograph)
Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Angler (SS-240) was a Gato-class submarine that conducted seven war patrols in the Pacific Theater from January 1944 to July 1945, sinking at least three confirmed Japanese merchant vessels (Shuko Maru, Otori Maru, and Nanrei Maru) and assisting in coordinated wolfpack operations. Notable achievements included the evacuation of 58 civilians from Panay Island in April 1944 and the rescue of the crippled USS Bergall in December 1944. In her final patrol, Angler conducted shore bombardment missions against Japanese installations, including strikes on Kinkasan Island in July 1945.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut
Laid down
1942-11-09
Launched
1943-07-04
Commissioned
1943-10-01
Notable Tours / Service Eras
WWII Pacific Theater 1944-1945
Combat Actions
First War Patrol — Mariana Islands· 1944-01 Sank Shuko Maru; damaged two others
Second War Patrol — Panay Evacuation· 1944-02 to 1944-04 Evacuated 58 civilians
Fourth War Patrol — South China Sea Wolfpack· 1944-06 to 1944-08 Pack operations; no confirmed sinkings
Fifth War Patrol — Sulu Sea· 1944-09 to 1944-11 Sank Nanrei Maru; tracked Japanese task force off Leyte
Sixth War Patrol — Lifeguard and Bergall Rescue· 1944-12 to 1945-02 Assisted crippled USS Bergall to safety
Seventh War Patrol — Shore Bombardment· 1945-06 to 1945-07 Three shore bombardment missions; engaged Kinkasan Island
Home Ports & Forward Bases
Key West, Florida — 1943
Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii — 1943-1945
Fremantle, Australia — 1944-1945
Midway Island — 1944
Saipan — 1945
San Francisco, California — 1945
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
Bethlehem Steel Company, San Francisco, California· 1945 overhaul
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
20 May 1944 — Japanese escort vessels pounded Angler after she sank Otori Maru but vessel escaped damage
20–29 May 1944 — Crew illness from contaminated water and carbon tetrachloride exposure; assisted by Flasher, Childs, and Crevalle
24 June 1944 — Hit uncharted obstruction in Exmouth Gulf during refueling
22–23 October 1944 — Rescued 26 Japanese survivors from lifeboat; retained three prisoners
USS Angler (SS-240) 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 Angler (SS-240). 2 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 propulsion line
Fleet-boat-propulsion-early-GM-4-GE template indicates 4 GE electric motors per Wikipedia infobox propulsion line
Source: this equipment reference was extracted from public Wikipedia/DANFS records for USS Angler (SS-240). 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 Angler
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.
Angler SS-240 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Angler SS-240 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Angler SS-240 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 Angler SS-240 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Angler SS-240'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 Angler SS-240?
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 Angler SS-240?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Angler SS-240 include: General Electric, General Motors. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Angler SS-240 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. Angler SS-240 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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