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USS Bluegill (SSK-242) underway during the 1950s (NH 78979)Source: Wikimedia Commons — public domain (U.S. Navy photograph)
Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Bluegill (SS-242) was a Gato-class submarine commissioned in November 1943 and served as a fleet submarine during the Pacific War, completing six war patrols between April 1944 and June 1945 that resulted in the sinking of ten Japanese vessels totaling 46,212 tons, including the light cruiser Yubari. After being placed in reserve in 1946, she was recommissioned in 1951 for training duties and converted to a hunter-killer submarine in 1953, operating in this capacity through the Cold War and Vietnam War until decommissioning in 1969. The vessel was sunk in 1971 for use as a salvage trainer and subsequently scuttled in 1983.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut
Laid down
1942-12-17
Launched
1943-08-08
Commissioned
1943-11-11
Decommissioned
1969
Notable Tours / Service Eras
WWII Pacific Theater 1944-1945
Cold War Training/ASW 1951-1969
Combat Actions
First War Patrol — Yubari sinking· 1944-04 Sank Japanese light cruiser
First War Patrol — merchant vessel operations· 1944-05 Sank cargo ships Asosan Maru, Miyaura Maru
Second War Patrol — Sanju Maru and Kojun Maru· 1944-08 Sank cargo ship and submarine chaser
Third War Patrol — Manila convoy action· 1944-10 Sank three transport and cargo vessels
Home Ports & Forward Bases
Milne Bay, New Guinea — arrival March 1944
Manus Island, Admiralty Islands — resupply May 1944
Brisbane, Australia — patrol conclusion June 1944
Fremantle, Western Australia — patrol base August–November 1944
Groton, Connecticut — commissioning November 1943
Notable Incidents
22 May 1944 — Attacked by Japanese submarine chasers and aircraft during third war patrol
Final Disposition
Sunk 1971 as salvage trainer, refloated and scuttled 1983
USS Bluegill (SS-242) 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 Bluegill (SS-242). 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 diesel engines per Wikipedia infobox
Fleet-boat-propulsion-early-GM-4-GE template indicates 2 × GE electric motors per Wikipedia infobox
Source: this equipment reference was extracted from public Wikipedia/DANFS records for USS Bluegill (SS-242). 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 Bluegill
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.
Bluegill SS-242 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Bluegill SS-242 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Bluegill SS-242 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 Bluegill SS-242 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Bluegill SS-242'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 Bluegill SS-242?
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 Bluegill SS-242?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Bluegill SS-242 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 Bluegill SS-242 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. Bluegill SS-242 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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