Naval Submarine Base New London (SUBASE New London), located in Groton, Connecticut on the Thames River, is the home of the United States Navy Submarine Force and has served as the primary East Coast submarine base and the location of the Naval Submarine School since 1916. SUBASE New London provides home port services for Atlantic Fleet attack submarines and ballistic missile submarines, operates the Naval Submarine School providing basic and advanced submarine training for all submarine-qualified Navy personnel, and supports the nuclear submarine force with training, maintenance, and administrative facilities. The base was substantially expanded during World War II and again during the Cold War nuclear submarine buildup, with the facility construction of those eras incorporating asbestos-containing building materials throughout the submarine pier facilities, submarine school buildings, barracks, and support infrastructure. Submarine crews, submarine school students, and permanent party shore support personnel serving at SUBASE New London accumulated background asbestos exposure from the asbestos-containing construction of the base facilities throughout their assignments.

Submarine Pier and Waterfront Facility Asbestos

New London waterfront and pier facilities incorporated asbestos:

  • Submarine tender and pier support buildings — the pier-side support buildings, submarine tender berths, and waterfront support facilities at SUBASE New London were constructed using WWII-era and Cold War military construction with asbestos-containing building materials in the construction. Shore support personnel and submarine crews reporting to submarines berthed alongside the New London piers worked in and around the asbestos-containing pier support building construction
  • Submarine refit and maintenance facilities — the submarine refit and intermediate maintenance facilities at SUBASE New London where submarine crews performed between-deployment maintenance and refit work were built using military construction specifications incorporating asbestos-containing products in the facility construction

Submarine School Facility Asbestos

New London Submarine School facilities incorporated asbestos:

  • Submarine school classroom and training building construction — the Naval Submarine School classroom buildings, training tank facilities, and laboratory spaces at SUBASE New London were constructed using WWII-era and Cold War military construction materials with asbestos-containing floor tile, ceiling products, and pipe insulation in the school building construction. Submarine school students, instructors, and administrative personnel working in the submarine school facilities accumulated background asbestos exposure from the school facility construction throughout their training and instructor duty assignments
  • Escape training tower facilities — the submarine escape training tower and related training facility buildings at SUBASE New London used military construction with asbestos-containing materials in the facility construction. Submarine school students and instructors using the escape training tower accumulated background asbestos exposure from the training facility construction

Barracks and Support Facility Asbestos

SUBASE New London residential and support facilities incorporated asbestos:

  • Enlisted barracks and bachelor officer quarters — WWII-era and Cold War barracks and bachelor officer quarters at SUBASE New London used military construction with asbestos-containing floor tile, ceiling materials, and pipe insulation in the residential facility construction. Submarine personnel living in barracks at New London accumulated background asbestos exposure from the residential facility construction throughout their shore assignments
  • Medical and administrative building construction — the naval hospital, dispensary, and administrative office buildings at SUBASE New London were constructed using military construction materials with asbestos-containing products in the building construction

VA Claims for SUBASE New London Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure at naval shore installations. Submarine crew members, submarine school students, instructors, and shore support personnel who served at Naval Submarine Base New London and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.