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USS Sculpin;0859003Source: Wikimedia Commons — public domain (U.S. Navy photograph)
Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Sculpin (SSN-590) was a Skipjack-class nuclear submarine that served during the Cold War from 1961 to 1990. Based initially at San Diego before relocating to Groton, Connecticut in 1978, she conducted numerous deployments to the western Pacific and Mediterranean, including operations in support of the Seventh Fleet and picket duty during the 1984 Lebanon intervention. She was decommissioned in August 1990 and subsequently scrapped in the Naval Vessel Recycling Program.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi
Laid down
1958-02-03
Launched
1960-03-31
Commissioned
1961-06-01
Decommissioned
1990-08-03
Notable Tours / Service Eras
Cold War Pacific Fleet 1961-1978
Cold War Atlantic Fleet 1978-1990
Western Pacific deployments 1962-1975
Mediterranean operations 1979, 1984
Home Ports & Forward Bases
San Diego, California — home port 1961-1978
Groton, Connecticut — home port 1978-1990
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Subic Bay, Philippines
Naha, Okinawa
Sydney, Australia
Hong Kong
Yokosuka, Japan
Willemstad, Curaçao
Holy Loch, Scotland
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
Mare Island Naval Shipyard· 1961-1962 post-shakedown availability
Mare Island Naval Shipyard· 1963 hull survey and restricted availability
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard· 1968-1969 major overhaul and refueling
Mare Island Naval Shipyard· 1971 restricted availability
Mare Island Naval Shipyard· 1973 restricted availability
Mare Island Naval Shipyard· 1982 non-refueling 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
November 1977 — USS Snook (SSN-592) broadsided Sculpin while tied to tender; Snook damaged, requiring 6 weeks drydock repairs
1982 — severe angles during crashback maneuver while submerged; vessel recovered
Final Disposition
scrapped — entered Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program Bremerton, Washington 1 October 2000; ceased to exist 30 October 2001
USS Sculpin (SSN-590) 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 Sculpin (SSN-590). 2 machinery/equipment entries identified through ship-specific BUSHIPS documentation. Manufacturers in bold link to documented asbestos-product history on AsbestosIndex.com.
15,000 shp (11 MW), per Wikipedia infobox propulsion section
Source: this equipment reference was extracted from public Wikipedia/DANFS records for USS Sculpin (SSN-590). 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 Sculpin
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.
Sculpin SSN-590 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Sculpin SSN-590 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Sculpin SSN-590 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 Sculpin SSN-590 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Sculpin SSN-590'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 Sculpin SSN-590?
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 Sculpin SSN-590?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Sculpin SSN-590 include: Westinghouse. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Sculpin SSN-590 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. Sculpin SSN-590 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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Runs in parallel with VA benefits — civil recovery does not reduce VA disability compensation
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