USS California BB-44

Constructed in 1921, the USS California BB-44 was the flagship of the Pacific Fleet for over two decades. In addition to performing traditional battleship duties, such as training the military, the USS California also served in a maintenance capacity, helping to modernize other ships in between her regular tours to Australia and New Zealand.

Although the Navy lacked a strict classification system for its battleships, the USS California – which was over 620 feet long and could travel as fast as 21 knots – was among the most important group known as "capital ships." This distinction highlighted the fact that the USS California was among the sturdiest ships with the most firepower in the Navy.

While many troops risked their lives over the years engaging in combat and other military operations of the USS California, so too did various shipbuilders and shipyard workers who experienced asbestos exposure as they worked on this battleship.

Over decades of asbestos exposure, people may develop serious, fatal diseases such as lung cancer and mesothelioma. As a result, it's paramount that anyone who worked on or aboard the USS California learn more about the methods and effects of battleship asbestos exposure.

The USS California in WWII

As World War II raged and Japan started posing a viable threat, the U.S. became aware that they needed to secure the Pacific. To this end, the USS California was sent to Pearl Harbor, where she was moored in Battleship Row on December 7, 1941.

With the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor on that fateful Sunday, the USS California sustained extensive damage, and 100 men were killed in the attack. In fact, the onslaught of bombs caused a number of holes to leak massive amounts of water onto this battleship. Despite the brave efforts of those aboard, the USS California eventually sank.

At the time of the bombings, all but two ships of the Pacific Fleet were moored at Pearl Harbor. This meant that after the Pearl Harbor attack, a massive amount of ship repair work was needed. Although damage to the USS California had been overwhelming, the ship wasn't beyond repair. The USS California was raised from Pearl Harbor and worked on for two years, after which time she headed for Japan to aid in the Battle of Surigao Strait and the Battle at Lingayen.

After rejoining the Pacific Fleet and aiding in the occupation of Honshu, the USS California was finally decommissioned in 1947.

Asbestos Exposure Aboard the USS California
Along with the lives lost at Pearl Harbor and in subsequent attacks, many others who helped build and regularly repair the USS California have had their lives cut short, as they have developed mesothelioma and other diseases as a result of asbestos exposure.

Like any watercraft constructed in the early 1900s, the USS California contained a number of parts and areas that were heavily laden with toxic asbestos fibers. From boilers to cements to pipes, both military personnel and civilians alike experienced dangerous levels of asbestos exposure in nearly every part of this battleship.

Because the effects of long-term asbestos exposure can be devastating, it's vital that anyone who spent time aboard the USS California learn more about asbestos, mesothelioma and related diseases. Contact us for more information and resources on the nature and effects of asbestos exposure on the USS California.