Lafayette Class Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN-616) — Asbestos in the Cold War SSBN

The Lafayette class ballistic missile submarines — 31 boats commissioned between 1963 and 1967, designated SSBN-616 through SSBN-659 — were the primary strategic deterrent submarines of the United States during the Cold War, carrying Polaris A-2, Polaris A-3, and later Poseidon C-3 submarine-launched ballistic missiles. The Lafayette class, along with the related James Madison class and Benjamin Franklin class variants, constituted the largest portion of the US nuclear deterrent submarine force throughout the Cold War. Built at Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut and Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia, Lafayette class submarines used a single S5W pressurized water reactor providing steam to a single-shaft geared steam turbine arrangement. Lafayette class submarines served on deterrent patrols — 60-90 day submerged patrols at sea — for more than two decades, with crew members living and working in the submarine’s interior construction throughout extended underwater patrols. Lafayette class submarines incorporated asbestos-containing steam plant pipe insulation and interior construction materials consistent with the early 1960s submarine construction specifications, creating background asbestos exposure for crew members serving aboard Lafayette class submarines throughout their deterrent patrol service.

Lafayette Class Nuclear Steam Plant Asbestos

Lafayette class submarines incorporated asbestos in their S5W reactor steam propulsion systems:

• Secondary steam system pipe insulation — the secondary steam loop piping carrying high-pressure steam from the steam generators to the main propulsion turbine and ship’s service turbine generators aboard Lafayette class submarines incorporated asbestos-containing pipe insulation consistent with the early 1960s submarine construction specifications. Engineering ratings working in Lafayette class engine rooms accumulated background asbestos exposure from the secondary steam system pipe insulation during engineering watch standing throughout deterrent patrols
• Main propulsion turbine steam supply insulation — the steam supply headers and piping serving the main propulsion turbine aboard Lafayette class submarines incorporated asbestos-containing pipe insulation and valve insulation consistent with the submarine’s construction period specifications. MM(N) ratings maintaining main propulsion steam systems in Lafayette class engine rooms worked in proximity to the steam supply insulation during turbine maintenance operations
• Ship’s service turbine generator steam piping — the steam supply piping serving the ship’s service turbine generators aboard Lafayette class submarines incorporated asbestos-containing insulation materials. EM(N) ratings maintaining ship’s service turbine generators in Lafayette class engine rooms accumulated background asbestos exposure from the SSTG steam supply system insulation

Lafayette Class Interior Construction Asbestos

Lafayette class submarines incorporated early 1960s interior construction materials:

• Crew berthing and living space construction — the crew berthing compartments, crew mess, and crew living spaces aboard Lafayette class submarines — where enlisted crew members spent the majority of their time during extended deterrent patrols — incorporated asbestos-containing pipe insulation, overhead insulation, and interior construction materials consistent with the early 1960s submarine construction specifications. Crew members spending 60-90 day deterrent patrols in Lafayette class living spaces accumulated background asbestos exposure from the submarine’s interior construction throughout each patrol cycle
• Missile compartment construction — the missile compartment housing the Polaris/Poseidon ballistic missiles aboard Lafayette class submarines was constructed as an integral section of the submarine pressure hull with interior construction materials consistent with the early 1960s construction specifications. Crew members with access to the missile compartment accumulated background asbestos exposure from the missile compartment construction materials
• Operations compartment and control room construction — the operations compartment, control room, and fire control spaces aboard Lafayette class submarines incorporated asbestos-containing construction materials in the submarine hull structure. Officers and senior enlisted crew members working in Lafayette class control rooms and operations spaces accumulated background asbestos exposure from the submarine’s construction materials

VA Claims for Lafayette Class Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure aboard Navy ballistic missile submarines. Crew members who served aboard Lafayette class SSBN 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.