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Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Steelhead (SS-280) was a Gato-class submarine that conducted six war patrols in the Pacific Theater between 1943 and 1945, engaging in combat operations ranging from mine-laying and shore bombardment to torpedo attacks and lifeguard duties. She sank multiple Japanese vessels including the converted salvage vessel Yamabiko Maru and earned six battle stars for her World War II service. Following V-J Day, Steelhead was decommissioned in 1946 and subsequently served as a reserve training ship until being struck from the Navy List in 1960.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine
Laid down
1942-06-01
Launched
1942-09-11
Commissioned
1942-12-07
Decommissioned
1946-06-29
Notable Tours / Service Eras
WWII Pacific Theater 1943-1945
Combat Actions
First War Patrol· 1943-04 mine-laying and shore bombardment off Hokkaidō
Second War Patrol· 1943-07 torpedo attack on Japanese task force
Third War Patrol· 1944-01 torpedoed and sank Yamabiko Maru
Fifth War Patrol· 1944-07 three successful attacks sinking two ships
Sixth War Patrol· 1945-05 lifeguard duty and Tokyo Bay patrol
Home Ports & Forward Bases
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii — primary forward base 1943-1945
Midway Island — refueling and patrol base 1943-1945
San Francisco, California — West Coast home port 1944-1946
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
West Coast shipyard (unspecified)· 1944 overhaul and conning tower replacement following fire damage
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
1 October 1944 fire in drydock requiring new conning tower installation
Final Disposition
struck from Navy List 1 April 1960
USS Steelhead (SS-280) 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 Steelhead (SS-280). 2 machinery/equipment entries identified through ship-specific BUSHIPS documentation. Manufacturers in bold link to documented asbestos-product history on AsbestosIndex.com.
Fleet-boat-propulsion-early-FM-4-GE template indicates 2 × GE motors on Gato-class; per Wikipedia infobox propulsion
Source: this equipment reference was extracted from public Wikipedia/DANFS records for USS Steelhead (SS-280). 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 Steelhead
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.
Steelhead SS-280 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Steelhead SS-280 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Steelhead SS-280 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 Steelhead SS-280 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Steelhead SS-280'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 Steelhead SS-280?
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 Steelhead SS-280?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Steelhead SS-280 include: Fairbanks-Morse, General Electric. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Steelhead SS-280 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. Steelhead SS-280 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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