The USS Bullhead (SS-332) was the last US Navy ship sunk by enemy forces in World War II. A Balao-class submarine, the Bullhead was launched in July 1944 from Groton, Connecticut after its construction by the Electric Boat Company, a division of General Dynamics Corporation.
Sunk Near the Coast of Bali
It is thought that the Bullhead was sunk by a Japanese anti-submarine attack near the coast of Bali during her third patrol. Her crew of 70 enlisted men and 10 officers was never found.
The Bullhead’s area of operations included the South China and Java Seas and the Gulf of Siam. She began her first patrol in March 1945, conducting lifeguard services and attacking Pratas Island off the coast of China, damaging Japanese radio installations. The Bullhead’s crew also rescued several aviators from a fallen B-29 Superfortress.
The Bullhead Sank Several Enemy Vessels
A few months later, on her second patrol, the Bullhead sank a subchaser, a schooner and two freighters and damaged several more enemy vessels.
On the Bullhead’s third patrol in 1945, she left Fremantle, Australia in July to join two other subs in the Java Sea. On August 6, she reported that she had gone through the Lombok Strait; this was the last word from the Bullhead. It is thought that she was sunk on the same day that the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan.
Battle Stars for the Bullhead’s WWI Service
The USS Bullhead was awarded two battle stars for her service in World War II.
The USS Bullhead’s Asbestos Components
Navy submarines and other vessels had asbestos parts in components such as:
 insulation of hot water and steam pipes, boilers, tanks and engines
 ceiling tiles
 fire-resistant sheets in bulkheads
It wasn’t until 1973 that Maritime Administration regulations limited asbestos use to a very few applications in Navy vessels. Today, the stripping and scrapping of Navy vessels provide the highest potential for asbestos exposure.
Bring Your Asbestos Concerns to an Attorney
If you have concerns about asbestos exposure, contact an asbestos law firm in your area to learn about your legal rights.
