The USS Hake (SS-256) performed very admirably in World War II, receiving seven battle stars for her service. Named for the hake, the generic name for a type of fish, the Hake was a Gato-class submarine built by the Electric Boat Company, a subsidiary of General Dynamics.
Nine World War II Patrols
Launched in the summer of 1942, the Hake conducted nine WWII patrols and sank many enemy vessels. Her first mission was to find and destroy German subs in the North Atlantic. Her second patrol was also anti-submarine work, off the Azores. Both patrols were uneventful, and the Hake proceeded to New London, Conn.
A Variety of Enemy Vessels Sunk by the USS Hake
In her third and fourth patrols, the Hake sank a Japanese transport and damaged a tanker, taking on significant damage herself. She later sank two enemy subs and a tanker. Her fifth patrol was near Mindanao, and the Hake sank a destroyer, three transports and a cargo ship.
Years as a Training Ship
The USS Hake suffered considerable damage during her seventh patrol. However, she helped rescue 29 downed American aviators. An overhaul in San Francisco was followed by her last WWII patrol. After the war, the Hake returned to New London, where she was put in the reserve fleet. Used as a training ship for years, the USS Hake was finally struck from the Naval Register in 1967.
The USS Hake and Asbestos
The Electric Boat Co., the builder of many U.S. Navy submarines — including the USS Hake — launched more than 70 subs for the WWII effort. With the entry of the U.S. in the war, submarines and other vessels for the Navy were built at a truly amazing rate.
Unfortunately, the rush to construct Navy ships was not accompanied by adequate safety precautions regarding asbestos. Navy ships used hundreds of asbestos-containing components, and the shipyard workers and crewmen who came into contact with these products may have contracted asbestos diseases.
If you’re concerned about asbestos exposure — whether yours or that of a loved one — contact an attorney who represents victims of asbestos poisoning today. You may be eligible for a legal remedy.
