USS Washington BB56

History of the WWII battleship, USS Washington BB56

USS Washington BB56 was a lead battleship in WWII. During the war, she earned 15 Battle Stars and never lost a man to an enemy. She set a record for steaming 31,494 miles for 79 consecutive days during the war; fueling destroyers nearly 60 times.  In addition to never being hit by the enemy, she is notable for the following:

• Bombarded ten enemy islands
• Shot down 12 enemy planes
• Repelled 53 air attacks
• Damaged three enemy cruisers and a destroyer
• Sank more combat tonnage than any U.S battleship during WWII
• Steamed a total of 289,609 miles during the war

Asbestos and USS Washington 56:

During WWII, asbestos was thought to be an ideal material in the shipbuilding and maritime industries. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is composed of durable fibers that are resistant to heat and friction. It was widely used to insulate steam pipes, incinerators, boilers and other products found on U.S. battleships such as USS Washington.

Unaware of its deadly effects, navy veterans and workers who cleaned and maintained the battleships and other U.S. Navy vessels during WWII were exposed to high levels of asbestos on a daily basis. Studies prove that diseases caused by asbestos exposure can take up to 50 years to develop, meaning retired veterans and shipyard workers who built, repaired and maintained U.S. battleships may just now be feeling the effects.

Diseases caused by asbestos exposure:
Individuals exposed to high levels of asbestos for long periods of time are likely to develop one of three deadly diseases: mesothelioma, asbestosis or lung cancer.

Mesothelioma:
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that attacks the protective sac lining the lungs, stomach or heart. It is the only form of cancer proven to be a direct result of asbestos exposure.

Asbestosis:
Over time, asbestos fibers accumulate in the lungs, causing a build up of scar tissue which leads to chronic inflammation of the lung, otherwise known as asbestosis.

Lung cancer:
Exposure to high levels of asbestos for long periods of time can lead to the development of lung cancer. Studies have proven that smoking tobacco can greatly increase the chances of developing lung cancer; those exposed to asbestos are advised not to smoke.

For more information about the USS Washington and asbestos exposure, please contact us.