Tang class submarines — six boats (USS Tang SS-563 through USS Gudgeon SS-567 and USS Wahoo SS-565, commissioned 1951–1952) — were the first postwar US Navy attack submarine design, developed from wartime GUPPY conversion experience into a new streamlined hull form. Built at Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics (Groton, Connecticut) and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (Kittery, Maine), Tang class boats used diesel-electric propulsion with four diesel generators and electric drive motors, with steam-heated auxiliary systems for crew comfort and battery heating applications. Tang class boats served through the 1960s and 1970s in attack submarine and ASW training roles.

Diesel-Electric Engineering Spaces and Asbestos

Tang class submarines used diesel-electric propulsion with asbestos-containing materials in the auxiliary systems:

  • Auxiliary steam system insulation — the steam-heated auxiliary systems aboard Tang class boats — heating systems, potable water heating, and fuel heating systems — used asbestos-insulated steam distribution piping throughout the pressure hull. Enginemen maintaining the auxiliary steam and heating systems worked in the confined submarine engineering spaces in proximity to asbestos-insulated steam piping and fittings throughout the boat’s service life
  • Diesel engine exhaust system insulation — the diesel engine exhaust systems and associated high-temperature components aboard Tang class boats used asbestos-containing thermal insulation for heat reduction in the confined submarine machinery spaces, with asbestos insulation applied to exhaust manifolds and associated high-temperature surfaces
  • Battery compartment insulation — the large lead-acid battery plants in Tang class submarines required heating systems to maintain battery temperature in cold water operations, with the battery heating systems using asbestos-insulated steam or hot water distribution piping in the battery compartments

Confined Submarine Interior Construction

Tang class submarines had confined pressure hull construction using period building materials:

  • The crew berthing, control room, and working spaces in these postwar submarines used construction materials consistent with the early 1950s construction, including asbestos-containing deck covering and interior construction products in the confined interior pressure hull compartments

VA Claims for Tang Class Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure aboard Navy attack submarines. Enginemen, Electrician’s Mates, and crew members who served aboard Tang class submarines (SS-563 through SS-568) 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 Tang Class (SS)

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 Presumptive Benefits — No Filing Deadline

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural disease as conditions presumed to be service-connected for Navy veterans with documented asbestos exposure under 38 CFR § 3.309(d). No statute of limitations applies to VA disability compensation claims.

Available benefits may include monthly disability compensation, Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses, priority VA healthcare enrollment, and Special Monthly Compensation for severe cases. Parallel claims against the asbestos bankruptcy trust funds established by the manufacturers of these products do not reduce VA compensation.

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.