USS Amberjack SS-219

The USS Amberjack SS-219 was built by the General Dynamics/Electric Boat Company — the primary builder of submarines for the U.S. Navy — and launched in 1942. A Gato-class submarine, the Amberjack had a crew of 54 enlisted men and six officers. She was awarded three battle stars for her service in World War II.

Repairs, Maintenance
The Amberjack’s three patrols were marked by combat damage and other problems that necessitated repairs in Espiritu Santo (an island of Vanuatu) in 1942, and in Brisbane, Australia in 1943.

Sunk by Japanese Forces
The Amberjack, named after a very vigorous sport fish found throughout the western Atlantic Ocean, is credited with sinking three Japanese ships and damaging two more. In 1943, the Amberjack was apparently sunk by a Japanese torpedo boat, Hiyodori, and a sub-chaser off the coast of Papua New Guinea, although these details were never confirmed. There were no survivors.

The USS Amberjack SS-219 and Asbestos
Both the personnel who built the Amberjack and the men who served aboard her were at significant risk of inhaling asbestos fibers from the many asbestos-containing components of the submarine. Asbestos was very widely used in the construction of both Navy and civilian vessels in the 1940s — the era in which the Amberjack was constructed.

The U.S. Navy’s Asbestos Regulations Came Decades Late
The U.S. Navy did not implement strict safety regulations regarding the use of asbestos in subs and other vessels until the 1980s. These regulations were of no benefit to the many thousands of Navy vets and shipyard workers who were active in the 1940s through the 1970s.

Asbestos Diseases
The diseases that can be caused by asbestos exposure — lung cancer, asbestosis, mesothelioma — are much more common among Navy veterans and shipyard workers than among the general population. Individuals with asbestos-caused diseases have a legal right to compensation for their suffering and losses, such as:

 medical bills
 rehabilitation and long-term care
 loss of income

Contact an Asbestos Victims’ Law Firm
If you helped build or served aboard the USS Amberjack, see a knowledgeable attorney to discuss your concerns about asbestos.