Navy Sonarmen (ST) — the enlisted rating responsible for the operation, maintenance, and repair of hull-mounted sonar systems, variable depth sonar systems, and towed array sonar systems used for underwater detection and anti-submarine warfare — served aboard destroyers, destroyer escorts, frigates, and other anti-submarine warfare surface combatants throughout the Cold War era. ST ratings worked in sonar equipment spaces, sonar dome access spaces, and sonar signal processing spaces aboard anti-submarine warfare surface combatants, maintaining and operating the active and passive sonar systems used for submarine detection during Cold War ASW patrols and convoy escort operations. Sonarmen working in sonar equipment spaces aboard surface combatants accumulated background asbestos exposure from the asbestos-containing construction of the ship spaces surrounding the sonar equipment, and encountered asbestos-containing electrical insulation materials in sonar system electronics during maintenance and repair operations.

Sonar Equipment Space Asbestos

ST ratings in sonar spaces accumulated background asbestos exposure:

  • Sonar equipment room construction — the sonar equipment spaces aboard WWII-era and Cold War surface combatants were located within the ship’s interior construction using asbestos-containing building materials consistent with the ship’s overall construction specifications. Sonarmen working in sonar equipment spaces aboard ships constructed during the WWII and Cold War era accumulated background asbestos exposure from the asbestos-insulated sonar space construction — overhead, bulkhead, and deck insulation — in addition to any direct asbestos contact from sonar equipment maintenance operations
  • Sonar dome access and keel space construction — the sonar dome access spaces and keel areas providing access to hull-mounted sonar transducer domes aboard surface combatants were constructed with asbestos-containing pipe insulation and structural insulation consistent with the surrounding ship construction. Sonarmen accessing sonar dome areas for transducer inspection and maintenance accumulated background asbestos exposure from the asbestos-insulated construction in the sonar dome access spaces

Sonar Electronic Equipment Asbestos

ST ratings maintaining sonar electronics encountered asbestos insulation materials:

  • Sonar transmitter and receiver electrical insulation — Cold War sonar transmitter and receiver equipment — SQS-23, SQS-26, SQS-53 series hull-mounted sonars and their predecessors — incorporated electrical components with wiring insulation materials consistent with mid-twentieth century electronics manufacturing. Sonarmen performing sonar electronic component replacement, circuit board repair, and internal sonar equipment maintenance encountered electrical wiring and component insulation materials in the sonar equipment electronics during maintenance operations
  • Variable depth sonar (VDS) handling equipment — the variable depth sonar systems deployed on Cold War ASW surface combatants used winch and handling systems to deploy sonar transducers to below-layer depths. Sonarmen maintaining VDS handling equipment in the VDS handling spaces encountered gasket and packing materials in the VDS winch and deployment system components during VDS equipment maintenance

VA Claims for Navy Sonarmen

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy ASW operations. Sonarmen who served aboard anti-submarine warfare surface combatants and submarines and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.