Lafayette Class Ballistic Missile Submarines (SSBN-616) — Asbestos in the Polaris/Poseidon SSBN Fleet

Lafayette class ballistic missile submarines — 31 hulls commissioned from 1963 through 1967 at Electric Boat Division (Groton, Connecticut), Newport News Shipbuilding (Newport News, Virginia), and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard — were the most numerous class of US nuclear ballistic missile submarines ever built and formed the core of the US Navy’s sea-based nuclear deterrent through the 1970s and 1980s. The Lafayette class was armed with 16 Polaris A-2 or A-3 SLBMs, with later hulls modified to carry the Poseidon C-3 SLBM, and powered by the Westinghouse S5W or the improved S5Wa pressurized water reactor driving a single-shaft geared steam turbine propulsion plant.

S5W/S5Wa Reactor Steam Plant and Asbestos

Lafayette class reactor steam plants used asbestos-containing materials in steam system insulation throughout the submarine construction era of the 1960s:

• Main steam system insulation — the high-pressure steam piping from the S5W reactor steam generators through the main propulsion turbines used asbestos pipe covering in the engineering spaces of Lafayette class submarines. Machinist’s Mates (MM) performing steam system maintenance aboard Lafayette class submarines during deterrent patrols worked in proximity to asbestos-insulated piping throughout the submarine’s service life
• Propulsion turbine insulation — the main propulsion turbines and reduction gear casings aboard Lafayette class submarines used asbestos-containing thermal insulation blankets and lagging applied during submarine construction at Electric Boat and Newport News in the 1963-1967 period
• Auxiliary turbine generators — the ship’s service turbine generators providing electrical power used asbestos-containing turbine casing insulation in the submarine’s electrical plant

Missile Compartment and Submarine Interior

Lafayette class submarines carried 16 Polaris/Poseidon missiles in the submarine mid-body missile compartment:

• Missile compartment HVAC insulation — the missile compartment environmental control system maintaining temperature and humidity within the SLBM launch tubes used insulated ductwork with asbestos-containing insulation materials in the 1960s construction
• Submarine pressure hull interior — the interior thermal and acoustic insulation throughout Lafayette class pressure hulls used asbestos-containing materials applied to the hull interior during construction, with asbestos present in spaces accessible throughout the submarine during normal operations and maintenance

Deterrent Patrol Operations

Lafayette class submarines conducted continuous deterrent patrols under the Navy’s Blue/Gold crew rotation system:

• 31-hull Lafayette class conducted hundreds of deterrent patrols from the mid-1960s through the late 1980s, with Blue and Gold crews alternating 60-70 day deterrent patrol cycles
• Engineering ratings aboard Lafayette class submarines — primarily Machinist’s Mates and Electrician’s Mates — maintained reactor steam plant components with asbestos-containing insulation throughout extended deterrent patrols in the submarine’s confined engineering spaces

VA Claims for Lafayette 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 Lafayette class submarines during deterrent patrol operations 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.