SS Nevada BB-36

First commissioned in 1916, the USS Nevada BB-36 has an esteemed service history in both World War I and World War II. Although her early operations and WWI missions were vital in war efforts at the time, the USS Nevada is generally best known and more widely recognized for her performance in WWII.

The USS Nevada in WWII

Before the U.S. officially entered World War II, the USS Nevada was moored in Pearl Harbor, making her one of many viable targets when the Japanese attacked in 1941. Although she wouldn't suffer the worst damages of this attack, the harm done was significant, as she was hit by a torpedo and two bombs.

After undergoing massive repairs and gunnery modernizations in Puget Sound, the USS Nevada:

• went to Alaska to drive off Japanese forces trying to invade Attu Island
• headed to Norfolk, Virginia for further modernizations
• aided in the Normandy invasion (D-Day)
• bombarded German forces on the Cherbourg Pennisula
• supported the invasion of southern France

Following more repairs, the USS Nevada made her way the waters of the Pacific, where she:

• protected marines landing in and bombarding Iwo Jima
• participated in the strikes on Okinawa
• joined the 3rd Fleet to aid in strikes on mainland Japan

Upon the end of World War II shortly thereafter, the USS Nevada returned to the U.S. and earned seven battle stars for her brave service in the combat effort.

The USS Nevada after WWII

Like the USS Arkansas BB-33, the USS Nevada played a role in nuclear testing following the end of World War II. Specifically, she became a target ship for nuclear bomb tests that took place in the Bikini Islands in 1946.

After being decommissioned later that same year, the USS Nevada was ultimately sunk in 1948 as part of military training and practice exercises.

Asbestos Exposure on the USS Nevada BB-36
Throughout her over 30 years of heroic service, the USS Nevada did experience a loss of military personnel, as the Pearl Harbor bombings and subsequent attacks caused a number of casualties of her crew.

Tragically, these weren't the only lives affiliated with the USS Nevada that were lost. For shipbuilders who helped construct this battleship and repair workers who worked on overhauling her throughout her years of service, unabated asbestos exposure was a real threat that has caused (and will continue to cause) many to develop irreversible, fatal diseases.

In contrast to the visible, direct threats of combat, asbestos exposure is more insidious in nature, as many unknowingly experienced it and subsequently developed serious diseases such as mesothelioma. If you worked on or served aboard the USS Nevada and have concerns about your possible asbestos exposure, contact us today.