USS Tecumseh (SSBN-628) — Equipment Reference & Asbestos Exposure Record
Equipment reference and asbestos exposure record for USS Tecumseh (SSBN-628). 2 machinery and manufacturer entries from the public Wikipedia article...
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 Tecumseh (SSBN-628) was a James Madison-class ballistic missile submarine commissioned in 1964 and based initially at Pearl Harbor, conducting 21 strategic deterrent patrols in the Pacific before transferring to the Atlantic Fleet in 1969. After conversion from Polaris to Poseidon missiles at Newport News, she was homeported in Charleston, South Carolina from 1971 and conducted deterrent patrols from both Charleston and Holy Loch, Scotland until 1992. Decommissioned on 23 July 1993, she was recycled at Bremerton, Washington in 1994, with her torpedo tubes and hull section preserved at the Naval Undersea Museum.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Electric Boat Division of the General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, Connecticut
Laid down
1962-06-01
Launched
1963-06-22
Commissioned
1964-05-29
Decommissioned
1993-07-23
Notable Tours / Service Eras
Cold War Pacific deterrent patrols 1964-1969
Cold War Atlantic Fleet deterrent patrols 1972-1992
Home Ports & Forward Bases
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii — home port 1964-1969
Charleston, South Carolina — home port 1971-1992
Holy Loch, Scotland — forward base 1972-1976 and 1987-1992
Bremerton, Washington — decommissioning port 1993
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
Newport News shipyard· 1969-1970 Polaris to Poseidon conversion and 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.
Final Disposition
scrapped via Nuclear-Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program, completed 1 April 1994
USS Tecumseh (SSBN-628) is a documented U.S. Navy nuclear-powered ballistic-missile 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 Tecumseh (SSBN-628). 2 machinery/equipment entries identified through ship-specific BUSHIPS documentation. Manufacturers in bold link to documented asbestos-product history on AsbestosIndex.com.
Per Wikipedia infobox: 2 × geared steam turbines, 15,000 shp
Source: this equipment reference was extracted from public Wikipedia/DANFS records for USS Tecumseh (SSBN-628). 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 Tecumseh
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.
Tecumseh SSBN-628 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Tecumseh SSBN-628 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Tecumseh SSBN-628 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 Tecumseh SSBN-628 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Tecumseh SSBN-628'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 Tecumseh SSBN-628?
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 Tecumseh SSBN-628?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Tecumseh SSBN-628 include: Westinghouse. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Tecumseh SSBN-628 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. Tecumseh SSBN-628 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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