USS Arizona BB-39

Constructed in 1916, the USS Arizona BB-39 was a massive battleship that proudly served in World War I. At over 600 feet long, the USS Arizona was able to travel as fast as 21 knots, which made her a particularly stealthy battleship in the war effort.

However, while the USS Arizona played an important role in WWI military operations, this battleship is generally best known for being attacked and sunk in Pearl Harbor. The sinking of the USS Arizona, along with the deaths of over 1,100 Americans, was directly responsible for causing the United States to engage in World War II.

In addition to this staggering loss of life, asbestos exposure on the USS Arizona may have also caused a number of others to develop incurable fatal diseases, such as mesothelioma or lung cancer. Consequently, it's vital that those who helped construct or repair the USS Arizona learn more about the risks of asbestos exposure on battleships.

The USS Arizona BB-39 in WWI

In her early years and throughout World War I, the USS Arizona alternated her time between performing training missions, transporting soldiers and engaging in battle.

This versatility in duties was mainly due to the fact that the USS Arizona was one of two "super-dreadnoughts" the Navy built. The distinction of "super-dreadnought" was given for both the size and amount of guns the ship carried, as well as the size of the ship itself.

After performing training runs and joining Battleship Division 8, the USS Arizona functioned as a gunnery-training vessel on the southern East Coast (from Virginia to Guantanamo Bay).

On Armistice Day, the USS Arizona went to England and became part of the envoy transporting President Wilson to the Paris Peace Conference. Upon returning to the U.S., the USS Arizona safely transported 230 veterans home.

The USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor

In 1941, the USS Arizona was stationed in Pearl Harbor. Because she had recently undergone a series of repairs and modernizations in San Pedro, the USS Arizona was in prime shape to perform intense training operations. Specifically, she was a key player in "Fleet Problems," a set of complex war training exercises. Tragically, her last training performance would take place on December 4, 1941 with the USS Nevada and the USS Oklahoma.

On Sunday December 6, 1941, Japanese aircraft attacked the USS Arizona. Although an air raid warning rung about 5 minutes before the attack, the bombing was a complete surprise, as all battleships in Pearl Harbor were moored peaceably.

In the waves of attacks that followed, a bomb hit the USS Arizona between two of its turrets, causing a massive explosion fueled by black powder. After burning for two days following the attack, the USS Arizona sunk with 1,177 men onboard. Currently, the USS Arizona still rests at the bottom of the ocean where she first sunk. As a National Historic Landmark, she serves as a memorial to those who lost their lives in the Pearl Harbor attack.

The USS Arizona: Asbestos Exposure on Battleships

The loss of life during the Pearl Harbor attack is, unfortunately, not the only way in which people's lives were threatened aboard the USS Arizona. Because this battleship was constructed and repaired during the early 20th century, many of its parts contained the toxic mineral known as asbestos.

In fact, because asbestos was used so pervasively in shipbuilding and ship repair work, anyone who worked on the USS Arizona could have experienced dangerous asbestos exposure in:

• boiler rooms
• engine rooms
• mess halls
• navigation rooms
• sleeping quarters

Since asbestos exposure can cause a number of irreversible and life-threatening conditions, it's crucial that anyone who worked on the USS Arizona be aware of the consequences of asbestos exposure. Contact us for more information and resources about asbestos exposure on the USS Arizona.