George Washington Class SSBN (SSBN-598) — Asbestos in Ballistic Missile Submarines

The George Washington class fleet ballistic missile submarines — five boats commissioned between 1959 and 1961, hull numbers SSBN-598 through SSBN-602 — were the world’s first operational ballistic missile submarines, carrying 16 Polaris A-1 submarine-launched ballistic missiles in a lengthened pressure hull. The George Washington class boats were constructed by inserting the Polaris missile compartment into existing Skipjack-class attack submarine hulls under construction, allowing accelerated commissioning to provide early fleet ballistic missile deterrent capability. George Washington class submarines were powered by the Westinghouse S5W pressurized water nuclear reactor driving steam turbines on a single shaft, the same propulsion system used in the Skipjack and subsequent attack submarine classes. The five George Washington class boats conducted deterrent patrols from Holy Loch, Scotland, carrying the Navy’s Polaris strategic deterrent force throughout the early Cold War. The submarine hull piping, secondary steam system components, and crew space construction incorporated asbestos-containing materials consistent with late-1950s Navy nuclear submarine construction specifications.

Nuclear Plant Secondary Steam System Asbestos

George Washington class nuclear propulsion secondary systems incorporated asbestos:

• Secondary steam system pipe insulation — the secondary side steam plant of the George Washington class S5W reactor system — the steam generators, steam distribution piping, and turbine admission systems — incorporated asbestos-containing thermal insulation on steam piping and components. Machinist’s Mates maintaining the secondary steam systems and propulsion turbines in the confined engineering spaces of these submarines worked in proximity to asbestos-containing steam system insulation
• Propulsion turbine and reduction gear insulation — the propulsion turbine casing and reduction gear systems in the George Washington class engine room incorporated asbestos-containing insulation on turbine casings and associated steam piping. Machinist’s Mates maintaining the propulsion plant worked in the asbestos-insulated engine room spaces

Polaris Missile Compartment Construction

The George Washington class missile compartment incorporated asbestos-containing materials:

• Missile compartment construction materials — the 16-tube Polaris missile compartment inserted into the George Washington class hull incorporated asbestos-containing construction materials in the missile tube structure, missile compartment passageway, and support system components consistent with late-1950s Navy submarine construction specifications. Submarine crew members standing missile system watches and performing missile tube maintenance in the missile compartment accumulated background asbestos exposure from the compartment construction

Submarine Interior Construction Asbestos

George Washington class crew spaces incorporated asbestos:

• Crew berthing and living space construction — George Washington class crew berthing, crew’s mess, officer’s wardroom, and living spaces incorporated asbestos-containing floor tile and overhead materials in the submarine interior construction. Two crews (Blue and Gold) alternated on patrol rotations, with each crew accumulating background asbestos exposure from the submarine interior construction during each deterrent patrol

VA Claims for George Washington Class Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure aboard Navy submarines. Machinist’s Mates, Missile Technicians, and crew members who served aboard George Washington class ballistic missile submarines and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.

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.