Ethan Allen class ballistic missile submarines — five hulls (USS Ethan Allen SSBN-608 through USS Sam Houston SSBN-609, and three additional hulls, commissioned 1961–1963) — were the first US Navy fleet ballistic missile submarines designed and built specifically as SSBNs rather than converted from the George Washington class SSN/SSBN hybrid design. Built at Electric Boat Division (Groton, Connecticut) and Newport News Shipbuilding, the Ethan Allen class carried 16 Polaris A-2 or A-3 submarine-launched ballistic missiles and was powered by the Westinghouse S5W pressurized water reactor driving a single-shaft geared steam turbine. The design’s purpose-built nature provided somewhat more crew habitability than the George Washington class, though both classes shared similar engineering plant configurations and asbestos exposure profiles.

S5W Reactor Steam Plant and Asbestos

The Westinghouse S5W reactor plant in Ethan Allen class submarines used asbestos-containing materials throughout the steam system:

  • Main steam system insulation — the high-pressure steam piping from the S5W steam generators through the propulsion turbines used asbestos pipe covering in the engineering spaces of Ethan Allen class submarines built 1961-1963. Machinist’s Mates performing steam plant maintenance during deterrent patrols worked in proximity to asbestos-insulated steam piping throughout the submarine’s service life
  • Propulsion turbine insulation — the main propulsion turbines and ship’s service turbine generators used asbestos-containing thermal insulation blankets and lagging in the early-1960s construction specifications
  • Reactor compartment boundary insulation — the thermal insulation at the reactor compartment boundaries and steam generator connections in Ethan Allen class submarines used asbestos-containing materials in the high-temperature transition zones

Submarine Interior and Habitability Spaces

Ethan Allen class submarines incorporated asbestos-containing materials in the improved habitability spaces:

  • Submarine pressure hull interior — the interior insulation systems in Ethan Allen class pressure hulls used asbestos-containing thermal and acoustic insulation materials applied during construction at Electric Boat and Newport News
  • Crew berthing and mess — the berthing, mess, and recreation spaces in the relatively more spacious Ethan Allen class design used interior finishing materials that included asbestos-containing deck tile and bulkhead construction consistent with early-1960s submarine standards

Deterrent Patrol Operations

Ethan Allen class submarines conducted continuous deterrent patrols under the Blue/Gold crew rotation system:

  • Five-hull Ethan Allen class conducted strategic deterrent patrols from the early 1960s through the 1970s, with crew members spending extended periods in the submarine’s confined spaces throughout each 60-70 day patrol cycle
  • Engineering ratings aboard Ethan Allen class submarines maintained S5W reactor steam plant components with asbestos-containing insulation throughout patrol deployments

VA Claims for Ethan Allen Class 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. Crew members who served aboard Ethan Allen class submarines and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.

Product & Manufacturer Reference

The asbestos-containing products documented on U.S. Navy vessels and at shipyards are catalogued by manufacturer on AsbestosIndex. These records cross-reference which companies supplied which materials and to which facilities.

Pipe Covering & Block Insulation Thermal insulation applied to steam lines, valves, and equipment in engine rooms and fire rooms Marine Products Insulation, gaskets, and packing products specified for naval and commercial marine applications Boilers & Steam Equipment Boiler manufacturers and insulation products — central to the fire room exposure pathway Gaskets & Packing Sheet and ring gaskets used throughout piping flanges, valve bonnets, and pump housings Electrical Products Wire insulation, switchgear arc chutes, and panel liners used throughout electrical spaces Full Product Index Search all 200+ manufacturers and 1,500+ documented asbestos products on AsbestosIndex™

Navy Ratings Most Exposed to Asbestos Aboard Ethan Allen Class

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the public asbestos litigation record document that the following Navy ratings worked routinely in spaces where ACM was installed, maintained, ripped out, and replaced:

VA Disability Claims for Asbestos-Related Disease

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs evaluates asbestos claims individually. A veteran generally needs medical evidence of a current asbestos-related disease, service evidence supporting in-service asbestos exposure, and a medical opinion connecting the two. Ship assignments, Navy ratings, and equipment records can help document the exposure history but do not create automatic service connection.

Approved claims may provide monthly disability compensation and related benefits. Survivors may separately qualify for Dependency & Indemnity Compensation when the applicable requirements are met. Civil lawsuits and asbestos-trust claims use different standards; claimants should obtain individualized advice about how the processes interact.

How to file a VA disability claim: VA claims are filed directly with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — not with a law firm. Start at VA.gov › Hazardous Materials Exposure, call 1‑800‑827‑1000, or get free help filing from a Veterans Service Organization: DAV, VFW, or American Legion.

VA Claims Guide on This Site › Compare: VA vs. Civil Lawsuit

Source notes: equipment-manifest entries (where shown) are sourced from public-record BUSHIPS (Bureau of Ships) documentation, NARA archives, and the public asbestos litigation record. Manufacturer attributions link to documented asbestos-product histories on AsbestosIndex.com where available. Nothing on this page constitutes medical or legal advice.