Electronics Technicians (ET) assigned to submarine duty — submarine-qualified ETs who served in nuclear attack and ballistic missile submarines — maintained the electronic systems aboard US Navy nuclear submarines, including radar (on submarines with surface radar systems), electronic warfare equipment, navigation systems, weapons fire control systems, and communications equipment. Submarine ET ratings were qualified in all submarine systems through the submarine qualification process, requiring familiarity with and work throughout the submarine’s engineering spaces.

Submarine Electronics Spaces and Asbestos

Submarine ET personnel working in electronics spaces encountered asbestos through the submarine’s construction:

  • Submarine pressure hull interior insulation — the thermal and acoustic insulation systems in nuclear submarine pressure hulls built through the late 1970s used asbestos-containing materials in the insulation layers applied to the hull interior. Submarine-qualified ETs working throughout the pressure hull during qualification, maintenance, and casualty control exercises were in proximity to this hull insulation in the bilge spaces and behind equipment access panels
  • Electronics equipment room construction — the electronics equipment rooms and spaces in nuclear submarines of the 1960s-1970s era used interior construction materials that in some configurations included asbestos-containing acoustic isolation systems in the equipment mounting and space treatment designed to minimize self-noise
  • Cable runs through engineering spaces — the electronic systems aboard submarines required cable runs through all compartments including the engineering spaces, with submarine-qualified ETs routing and maintaining electronics cables through engineering spaces containing asbestos-insulated steam plant components in early nuclear submarines

Submarine Qualification Process

Submarine qualification required ET personnel to demonstrate knowledge of all submarine systems:

  • Engineering space qualification — the submarine qualification process required ETs to demonstrate familiarity with the nuclear reactor plant, steam systems, and engineering equipment throughout the submarine. Engineering space walkthroughs during qualification put submarine-qualified ET personnel in direct proximity to asbestos-insulated steam system components in nuclear submarines of the 1960s-1970s era
  • Damage control and casualty control — submarine damage control responsibilities required ET personnel to respond throughout the submarine during emergency conditions, accessing the engineering spaces and other areas where asbestos-containing materials were present in the hull construction

VA Claims for Submarine ET Veterans

VA evaluates asbestos-related disability claims on a case-by-case basis. Veterans generally need evidence of in-service asbestos exposure, a current asbestos-related diagnosis, and a medical link between them. Submarine-qualified Electronics Technicians who served aboard nuclear submarines during the period when asbestos-containing construction materials were present and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.