The USS Jack (SS-259), a U.S. Navy submarine of the Gato class, sank over 76,000 tons’ worth of Japanese vessels in World War II, earning her a Presidential Unit Citation and seven battle stars. Although she now rests in the Mediterranean Sea after being used as a target by the 6th Fleet, the record of the USS Jack is a proud one.
Nine World War II Patrols
Built by the Electric Boat Company in Groton, Conn., the Jack was launched in 1942. During her nine war patrols, the Jack sank the:
 cargo ships Toyo Maru, Shozan Maru, Zikkyo Maru, Matsukawa Maru, Tsukushima Maru, Nichiei Maru and Yusan Maru
 the 5,000-plus-ton tankers Kokuie Maru, Nichirin Maru, Nanei Maru, and Ichiyo Maru
 Yoshida Maru, a transport ship
 San Pedro Maru, a tanker
 Mexico Maru
Post-War Years
In addition to undergoing a major overhaul in San Francisco in 1944, the USS Jack was serviced at sites such as Guam, Fremantle, Australia, Midway and Pearl Harbor. After her decommissioning at New London, Conn. in 1946, she was part of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet for many years.
In 1958, the USS Jack was loaned to Greece for service in the Royal Hellenic Navy. In 1967, she was returned to the U.S.
Asbestos and the USS Jack
The Jack’s crew — a complement of 54 enlisted men and six officers — may have been exposed to dangerous levels of asbestos as part of their service in this illustrious submarine. Asbestos was used extensively in U.S. Navy subs and other vessels built before strict safety regulations were implemented in the late 1970s.
Submarines of any class, with their small, tightly enclosed spaces, provided a near-ideal environment for containing airborne fibers of asbestos. Navy crewmen who inadvertently inhaled asbestos fibers in the 1940s or later are at grave risk of developing asbestos diseases like lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis.
If your family member (or you) served aboard the USS Jack, or helped build or repair her, see an asbestos attorney about your legal rights. You may be eligible for financial compensation for your losses.
