The USS Barracuda (SSK-1), named after a rapacious fish, was laid down on 1 July 1949 by the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, and commissioned on 10 November. As asbestos was highly present on US submarines between 1920 and 1970, it makes no exception. The submarine is part of three SSK vessels, the other two being USS Bass (SSK-2) and USS Bonita (SSK-3), which also contained asbestos. The USS Barracuda, whose purpose was to carry out training and experimental exercises, was decommissioned on 1 October 1973 at Charleston and was stricken on the same day. Afterward, it was sold for scrap. Asbestos fibers are invisible to the naked eye, cannot be felt or even tasted, and this is where the danger lies. Individuals can inhale massive amounts of asbestos fibers without even realizing it. Once inhaled, these fibers can then stick to the lining of the lungs causing the formation of scar tissue and ultimately cancerous tumors. If you’re a veteran who’s been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, you may be eligible for VA benefits that will give you access to medical care.
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