Submarine Sonar Technicians — STS ratings (formerly STG before the submarine/surface split of the Sonar Technician rating) — operated and maintained the passive towed array sonar, bow-mounted spherical sonar, and wide-aperture array sonar systems aboard US Navy attack submarines (SSN) and ballistic missile submarines (SSBN). STS billets were aboard all nuclear submarine classes from the Skipjack and George Washington classes through the Los Angeles and Ohio classes. The STS rating required submarine qualification, meaning STS personnel worked throughout the entire submarine rather than being confined to dedicated sonar spaces.

Submarine Interior and Sonar Space Asbestos

STS personnel working throughout the submarine hull encountered asbestos in multiple contexts:

  • Submarine pressure hull interior insulation — the thermal and acoustic insulation applied to the interior of the submarine pressure hull in nuclear submarines built through the late 1970s used asbestos-containing materials in the insulation layers between the pressure hull and interior trim. STS personnel submarine-qualified to work throughout the vessel worked in proximity to this hull insulation during access to bilge spaces, equipment maintenance, and throughout qualified submarine crew activities
  • Sonar equipment room acoustic treatment — the sonar equipment spaces in submarines of the 1960s-1970s construction era used acoustic isolation systems including asbestos-containing isolation mounting materials and bulkhead treatments to reduce self-noise in the sonar space, with STS personnel spending the majority of watch time in these sonar spaces
  • Anechoic tiles and acoustic isolation — the acoustic isolation systems used in submarine sonar equipment rooms included elastomeric isolators and tile materials that in some constructions incorporated asbestos-containing components

Engineering Space Access and Submarine Qualification

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

  • Engineering space access — the submarine qualification process required STS and all other submarine rates to demonstrate familiarity with engineering space systems including the nuclear reactor plant and steam systems. Nuclear submarine engineering spaces of the 1960s-1970s era contained asbestos-insulated steam plant components in direct contact with during qualification walkdowns and casualty control exercises
  • Bilge and machinery space work — submarine-qualified STS personnel assisting with submarine maintenance and casualty control worked throughout the submarine including the bilge spaces where accumulated asbestos debris from deteriorating hull insulation could create secondary exposure

VA Claims for STS 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 Sonar Technicians who served aboard nuclear submarines during the period when asbestos-containing hull insulation and sonar space construction materials were present and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.