USS Snook (SSN-592) — Equipment Reference & Asbestos Exposure Record
Equipment reference and asbestos exposure record for USS Snook (SSN-592). 2 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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Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Snook (SSN-592) was a Skipjack-class submarine commissioned in October 1961 and operated primarily with the Seventh Fleet in the western Pacific throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, including support missions during the Vietnam War. The vessel earned the Navy Unit Commendation for her 1965 deployment and participated in numerous exercises and training operations during her 25-year service life. Decommissioned on 14 November 1986, Snook was scrapped between 1996 and 1997 as part of the Naval Ship and Submarine Recycling Program.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi
Laid down
1958-04-07
Launched
1960-10-31
Commissioned
1961-10-24
Decommissioned
1986-11-14
Notable Tours / Service Eras
Seventh Fleet Pacific deployment 1962
Seventh Fleet Pacific deployment 1965
Seventh Fleet Pacific deployment 1966
Vietnam War support 1972
Seventh Fleet Pacific deployment 1973
Home Ports & Forward Bases
San Diego, California — home port
Sasebo, Japan
Chinhae, South Korea
Okinawa
Yokosuka, Japan
Subic Bay, Philippines
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Guam
Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
Mare Island Naval Shipyard· 1963-02 to 1963-08 hull improvements and repairs
Mare Island Naval Shipyard· 1963 repairs and electronic equipment installation
Mare Island Naval Shipyard· 1970-06 to 1970-09 drydocking
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard· 1967-03 to 1968-06 overhaul and refueling
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard· 1972 drydocking
Mare Island Naval Shipyard· 1973-11 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
30 June 1968 sinking of target submarine ex-Archerfish (AGSS-311)
Final Disposition
scrapped 1996-1997
USS Snook (SSN-592) 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 Snook (SSN-592). 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
Source: this equipment reference was extracted from public Wikipedia/DANFS records for USS Snook (SSN-592). 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 Snook
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.
Snook SSN-592 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Snook SSN-592 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Snook SSN-592 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 Snook SSN-592 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Snook SSN-592'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 Snook SSN-592?
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 Snook SSN-592?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Snook SSN-592 include: Westinghouse. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Snook SSN-592 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. Snook SSN-592 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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Runs in parallel with VA benefits — civil recovery does not reduce VA disability compensation
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