USS Flying Fish (SSN-673) — Equipment Manifest & Asbestos Exposure Record
Documented equipment manifest and asbestos exposure record for USS Flying Fish (SSN-673). 6 machinery and manufacturer entries derived from the public...
By Rights Watch Media Group LLC•June 6, 2026•2 min read
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USS Flying Fish (SSN-673) at sea 1972Source: Wikimedia Commons — public domain (U.S. Navy photograph)
Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Flying Fish (SSN-673), a Sturgeon-class attack submarine, was commissioned on 29 April 1970 and served in the U.S. Atlantic Fleet for 26 years. The vessel conducted numerous Mediterranean deployments, Arctic operations including a surfacing at the North Pole in 1977, and special operations in the northern Atlantic, earning multiple Navy Expeditionary Medals and a Battle Efficiency Award. Decommissioned on 16 May 1996, Flying Fish was recycled at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, having steamed approximately 600,000 miles under nine commanding officers.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, Connecticut
Laid down
1967-06-30
Launched
1969-05-17
Commissioned
1970-04-29
Decommissioned
1996-05-16
Notable Tours / Service Eras
Cold War Atlantic Fleet Operations 1970-1995
Mediterranean deployments 1980-1994
Northern Atlantic special operations 1979-1981
Home Ports & Forward Bases
Norfolk VA — home port 1970-1995
Athens, Greece — 1980
Naples, Italy — 1980
La Spezia, Italy — 1980, 1984
Ashdod, Israel — 1980, 1984
Port Everglades, Florida — 1983
New London, Connecticut — 1985
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
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
13 July 1993 — Greenpeace activists attempted to board submarine as nuclear power protest; 12 climbed aboard but were repelled by crew
Final Disposition
Scrapped via Nuclear-Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, completed 15 October 1996
USS Flying Fish (SSN-673) is a documented U.S. Navy nuclear-powered attack submarine with asbestos-exposure evidence in the public litigation record. The equipment manifest below was assembled from depositions, expert reports, and manufacturer interrogatory responses filed in U.S. asbestos litigation that reference equipment installed aboard this vessel.
Equipment Manifest
Equipment Manifest — USS Flying Fish (SSN-673). 6 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
Air Compressor, Reciprocating
Joy
Installed aboard USS Flying Fish (SSN-673); decedent performed general maintenance work on Joy air compressors January 1972 to May 1975; removed and replaced asbestos-containing flange gaskets
Valves
Durco
Witness recalled seeing Durco valves aboard USS Flying Fish during approximately 2.5-3 years of service; used on steam plant side, not nuclear side of power plant
Valve
Durco
Located in steam plant aboard USS Flying Fish (SSN-673)
Decedent performed insulation, gasket and packing work on Warren pumps aboard USS Flying Fish
Valves
Jamesbury
High-temperature steam pipeline valves with asbestos-containing insulation and flange gaskets aboard USS Flying Fish (SSN-673), worked on by decedent January 1972 to May 1975
Note: this manifest is derived from public asbestos litigation records (depositions, expert reports, manufacturer interrogatories) rather than primary BUSHIPS construction documents. Entries reflect what has been documented or alleged in publicly filed legal records.
AsbestosIndex™Product & Manufacturer Reference
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 Flying Fish
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.
Flying Fish SSN-673 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Flying Fish SSN-673 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Flying Fish SSN-673 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 Flying Fish SSN-673 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Flying Fish SSN-673'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 Flying Fish SSN-673?
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 Flying Fish SSN-673?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Flying Fish SSN-673 include: Durco, Jamesbury, Joy, Warren. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Flying Fish SSN-673 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. Flying Fish SSN-673 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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