USS Baton Rouge (SSN-689) — Equipment Reference & Asbestos Exposure Record
Equipment reference and asbestos exposure record for USS Baton Rouge (SSN-689). 3 machinery and manufacturer entries from the public Wikipedia article...
By Rights Watch Media Group LLC•June 6, 2026•1 min read
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Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Baton Rouge (SSN-689) was a Los Angeles-class nuclear attack submarine commissioned on 25 June 1977 and based at Norfolk, serving throughout the Cold War with deployments to the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, and North Atlantic. She was the second Los Angeles-class submarine commissioned and the first of her class to be decommissioned, following a collision with Russian submarine K-276 Kostroma on 11 February 1992. Decommissioned on 13 January 1995 after less than 18 years of service, Baton Rouge was dismantled by 30 September 1997 as part of post-Cold War restructuring.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Newport News Shipbuilding
Laid down
1972-11-18
Launched
1975-04-26
Commissioned
1977-06-25
Decommissioned
1995-01-13
Notable Tours / Service Eras
Cold War Atlantic Fleet 1977-1992
Mediterranean deployments 1978-1990
Indian Ocean deployment 1980
North Atlantic deployment 1980s
Home Ports & Forward Bases
Norfolk VA — home port 1977-1995
La Maddalena, Sardinia
La Spezia, Italy
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
Norfolk Naval Shipyard· 1984-1986 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
11 February 1992 collision with Russian Sierra-class submarine K-276 Kostroma off Kildin Island — two cuts sustained, removed from service
Final Disposition
scrapped — dismantling completed 30 September 1997
USS Baton Rouge (SSN-689) is a documented U.S. Navy nuclear-powered attack 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 Baton Rouge (SSN-689). 3 machinery/equipment entries identified through ship-specific BUSHIPS documentation. Manufacturers in bold link to documented asbestos-product history on AsbestosIndex.com.
Per Wikipedia infobox propulsion section; S6G is Westinghouse design
BQS 15 close range high frequency active sonar
Ametek
1
Per Design section
SADS-TG active detection sonar
Raytheon
1
Per Design section
Source: this equipment reference was extracted from public Wikipedia/DANFS records for USS Baton Rouge (SSN-689). 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 Baton Rouge
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.
Baton Rouge SSN-689 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Baton Rouge SSN-689 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Baton Rouge SSN-689 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 Baton Rouge SSN-689 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Baton Rouge SSN-689'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 Baton Rouge SSN-689?
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 Baton Rouge SSN-689?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Baton Rouge SSN-689 include: Ametek, Raytheon, Westinghouse. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Baton Rouge SSN-689 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. Baton Rouge SSN-689 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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Runs in parallel with VA benefits — civil recovery does not reduce VA disability compensation
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