USS George Washington Carver (SSBN-656) was a Lafayette-class ballistic missile submarine commissioned 15 June 1966 and serving the U.S. Navy through 18 March 1993 — Cold War strategic deterrent patrols carrying Polaris/Poseidon SLBMs. Equipment manifest below derived from a Crane Co. component report identifying valve and pump installations aboard.
The 23-entry equipment manifest below is sourced from ship-specific BUSHIPS (Bureau of Ships) documentation identifying machinery and equipment installed aboard. Each entry is documented equipment with verified manufacturer attribution — primary-source material for asbestos-exposure case development by Navy veterans and surviving families.
Equipment Manifest
| Equipment | Manufacturer | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gate Valve; Steel for Lube Oil Systems | Crane Company | Purchase Order H574-620A-49 | |
| Cast Steel Gate Valves, Bolted Bonnet | Crane Company | 1 1/4" and 2" sizes, 600 lb, Socket Weld and Flanged Ends | |
| Testing and Certification | Webco Testing Laboratory | Report No. 20452, March 1964 | |
| Steel Gate Valves, Bolted Bonnet | Crane Co. | 1-1/4" and 2" Cast Steel, Revision A | |
| Gate Valve, Socket Weld and Flanged Ends | Crane Co. | 600 lb., Revision E | |
| Testing Laboratory Services | Webcor Testing Laboratory | Report No. 20452, dated March 1964 | |
| Gate Valve | Crane Co. | 1 | 2 inch, 3611 XU model |
| 2 Inch 3611 XU Gate Valve | Crane Co. | 1 | Subjected to shock test in accordance with MIL-S-901a |
| Gate Valve, 2 Inch 3611 XU | L.A.P. Corp. | 1 | Subjected to Shock Test |
| Pump | Blackhawk Crosby | ||
| Pressure Gauge | Blackhawk Crosby | ||
| Control Manifold for Outboard Induction and Exhaust Valves | Vickers | Chapter HM-3 | |
| Main Sea Water Inboard Valves Hydraulic Control Manifold | Vickers | Chapter HM-5 | |
| Three-Valve Hydraulic Control Manifold for Torpedo Tube Services | Vickers | Chapter HM-14 | |
| Two-Valve Hydraulic Control Manifold for Hydrogen Overboard Discharge | Vickers | Chapter HM-15 | |
| Hydraulic Control Manifold for Depth Control Tanks Flood-and-Drain Valves | Vickers | Chapter HM-16 | |
| Five-Valve Hydraulic Control Manifold for ASW Hull and Backup Valves | Vickers | Chapter HM-17 | |
| Four-Valve Hydraulic Control Manifold for Miscellaneous Sea Water Valves | Vickers | Chapter HM-18 | |
| Emergency Shutting Manifolds for Engine Room MSW Valves | Vickers | Chapter HM-19 | |
| Control Manifold for MSW Outboard Valves and Main Condensers Continuous Vent Backup Valves | Vickers | Chapter HM-21 | |
| Emergency Shutting Manifold for Engine Room Miscellaneous Sea Water Valves | Vickers | Chapter HM-22 | |
| Manually Operated Hydraulic Control Valves with Hydraulic Override | Vickers | Chapter HH-4 | |
| Emergency Shutting Valves for Hovering Sea Valve and Trip Pump Overboard Discharge Valve | Vickers | Chapter HH-5 |
Asbestos-Containing Materials Aboard George Washington Carver
The standard asbestos-containing materials installed throughout U.S. Navy submarines of this era are documented to have included:
- Pipe lagging and thermal insulation on main steam, feed-water, fuel-oil, condensate, and saltwater piping throughout machinery spaces
- Boiler block insulation, refractory brick, and gun-blocks around the main boilers
- Asbestos gaskets and braided packing in valves, flanges, pumps, condensers, heat exchangers, and turbine glands
- Insulation jackets and removable lagging on main propulsion turbines, reduction gears, ship-service turbine generators, and forced-draft blowers
- Sheet asbestos and Marinite panels as fire-stops, bulkhead insulation, and overhead insulation
- Vinyl asbestos floor tile (VAT) in passageways, berthing, mess decks, and habitable compartments
- Asbestos rope, wick, and tape in gland-seal applications throughout the engineering plant
Sailors in Boilerman, Machinist’s Mate, Engineman, Electrician’s Mate, Hull Maintenance Technician, Damage Controlman, and other engineering ratings worked routinely in spaces where these materials were installed, maintained, ripped out, and replaced.
VA Benefits for George Washington Carver Veterans
The 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. The George Washington Carver equipment manifest is direct documentary evidence of the asbestos-containing materials her crew worked around throughout her service life.
Parallel claims against the asbestos bankruptcy trust funds established by the manufacturers of these products are also available, and do not reduce VA compensation.
Speak with an asbestos attorney with Navy veterans experience →
Equipment manifest derived from public-record BUSHIPS documentation specific to USS George Washington Carver (SSBN-656). Manufacturer attribution links to documented asbestos-product histories on AsbestosIndex.com where available. Editorial review applied per site standards.