The USS Hammerhead (SS-364) was named for the hammerhead shark. Built by the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co. in Wisconsin, the Hammerhead was launched in 1943 in Lake Michigan. She was towed down the Mississippi to New Orleans, and then proceeded to the Canal Zone and on to Pearl Harbor.
Seven World War II Patrols, Seven Battle Stars
A Gato-class submarine, the Hammerhead conducted seven patrols in World War II, for which she received seven battle stars.
The Hammerhead Sank Many Enemy Vessels
The Hammerhead’s patrols, often based out of Subic Bay in the Philippines, were at locations such as:
 the South China and Java Seas
 off the coast of Borneo
 off Cape Varella
 the coast of Indochina
 the Gulf of Siam
The Hammerhead sank cargo ships, frigate, sampan, escorts, the tanker Kinrei Maru and a cargo carrier.
Converted to GUPPY Sub, Sold to Turkey
Decommissioning brought the USS Hammerhead to Mare Island Naval Yard in Vallejo, California in August 1945. After years in the Reserve Fleet, the Hammerhead received training duty during the Korean War. She was later converted to a GUPPY sub at Mare Island and sold to Turkey.
The Asbestos Risk Associated with the USS Hammerhead
Nearly 300 asbestos-containing products were used in U.S. Navy vessels built before the 1970s. The USS Hammerhead, although it was unlike most Navy subs in that it wasn’t built by the Electric Boat Company, may also have had some asbestos components.
In the 1940s, asbestos was considered an excellent fire-retardant and insulation material for seagoing vessels. However, it was eventually confirmed that asbestos can cause cancer and severe respiratory diseases in humans, and strict asbestos regulations were finally implemented by the U.S. Navy in the 1980s — far too late for many Navy vets and shipyard workers.
Contact an Asbestos Attorney for More Information
If you helped build, repair, or convert the USS Hammerhead, or if you served aboard this illustrious sub, you may have been exposed to a toxic level of asbestos. Take your concerns about this toxin to a knowledgeable attorney in your area.
