USS Becuna (SS-319) — Equipment Reference & Asbestos Exposure Record
Equipment reference and asbestos exposure record for USS Becuna (SS-319). 3 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 Becuna SS-319 BadgeSource: Wikimedia Commons — public domain (U.S. Navy photograph)
Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Becuna (SS-319), a Balao-class submarine commissioned in May 1944, conducted five war patrols in the Pacific Theater between August 1944 and July 1945, sinking two Japanese tankers totaling 3,888 gross register tons. After World War II, she served in the Pacific Fleet until 1949, then transferred to the Atlantic Fleet where she operated as a training ship and made two deployments with the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean. Decommissioned in November 1969, Becuna was designated a National Historic Landmark and became a museum ship at Penn's Landing in Philadelphia in 1976, where she remains on permanent display.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut
Laid down
1943-04-29
Launched
1944-01-30
Commissioned
1944-05-27
Decommissioned
1969-11-07
Notable Tours / Service Eras
WWII Pacific Theater 1944-1945
Pacific Fleet Operations 1945-1949
Atlantic Fleet Training and Sixth Fleet Mediterranean Deployments 1949-1969
Combat Actions
Sinking of Tokuwa Maru· 1944-10 Joint sinking with USS Hawkbill
Sinking of Nichiryu Maru· 1945-02 Tanker sunk by torpedo
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
Fremantle· 1944 refit
Fremantle· 1945-01 refit
Subic Bay· 1945-02 refit
Fremantle· 1945-06 refit
Subic Bay· 1945-07 refit
Electric Boat Company, Groton· 1950-1951 GUPPY IA conversion
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.
Final Disposition
Museum ship at Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia
USS Becuna (SS-319) 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 Becuna (SS-319). 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-late-GM-4-GE template indicates GM diesels; as-built configuration per Wikipedia infobox
Fleet-boat-propulsion-late-GM-4-GE template indicates GE electric motors; as-built configuration per Wikipedia infobox
Batteries
Sargo
Upgraded to Sargo II batteries during Guppy IA modernization per Wikipedia infobox
Source: this equipment reference was extracted from public Wikipedia/DANFS records for USS Becuna (SS-319). 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 Becuna
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.
Becuna SS-319 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Becuna SS-319 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Becuna SS-319 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 Becuna SS-319 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Becuna SS-319'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 Becuna SS-319?
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 Becuna SS-319?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Becuna SS-319 include: General Electric, General Motors, Sargo. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Becuna SS-319 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. Becuna SS-319 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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Navy veterans and civilian shipyard workers diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may have grounds for a civil claim against the asbestos product manufacturers whose materials were installed aboard. O'Brien Law Firm represents veterans and their families in the civil track at no upfront cost — separate from any VA disability benefits you may be eligible for.
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