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Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Simon Lake (AS-33), lead ship of her class, served as a submarine tender for the U.S. Navy from 1964 to 1999. Operating primarily in the Atlantic and from Holy Loch, Scotland, she supported both ballistic and attack submarine squadrons during the Cold War, earning seven Navy E Ribbons and multiple Meritorious Unit Commendations. After decommissioning in 1999, she was held in reserve before being scrapped in 2019.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington
Laid down
1963-01-07
Launched
1964-02-08
Commissioned
1964-11-07
Decommissioned
1999-07-31
Notable Tours / Service Eras
Cold War Atlantic Fleet 1965-1972
Cold War Holy Loch, Scotland 1966-1970
Cold War Holy Loch, Scotland 1987-1992
Cold War Mediterranean Fleet 1993-1999
Operation Southern Watch Persian Gulf 1998
Home Ports & Forward Bases
Pearl Harbor HI — shakedown cruise 1965
Charleston SC — home port 1965-1972
Holy Loch, Scotland — forward base 1966-1970
Rota, Spain — relief station 1972
Kings Bay, Georgia — first submarine tender 1979-1985
La Maddalena, Italy — home port 1993-1999
Norfolk, Virginia — home port 1992, 1999
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
Charleston Naval Shipyard, North Charleston, South Carolina· 1977 extensive overhaul
Ingalls Shipyard, Pascagoula, Mississippi· 1985-1986 stem-to-stern overhaul and modernization
Norfolk Naval Shipyard· 1992-1993 conversion from ballistic missile to attack submarine tender
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
scrapped at Steelcoast, Brownsville, Texas — 2019
USS Simon Lake (AS-33) is a documented U.S. Navy submarine tender 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 Simon Lake (AS-33). 7 machinery/equipment entries identified through ship-specific BUSHIPS documentation. Manufacturers in bold link to documented asbestos-product history on AsbestosIndex.com.
Model #AV-203-P, Serial nos. 23 & 24, shipped 2/25
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 Simon Lake
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.
Simon Lake AS-33 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Simon Lake AS-33 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Simon Lake AS-33 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 Simon Lake AS-33 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Simon Lake AS-33'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 Simon Lake AS-33?
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 Simon Lake AS-33?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Simon Lake AS-33 include: Crane Co., Crane Company, Cutler-Hammer, Warren, Warren Pumps, Westinghouse Electric Corp.. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Simon Lake AS-33 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. Simon Lake AS-33 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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