As another R-class submarine, the USS R-18 (SS-95) was laid down in 1917 in San Francisco and served for a period of 13 years before being temporarily decommissioned. During this time, it was sent to New London, Connecticut for reconditioning. It was subsequently recommissioned in 1941 and continued serving until 1945 when it was finally decommissioned and sold for scrap.
Having been built when asbestos was widely used in shipyards as wall insulation, exposure was a serious problem for the people who served on this vessel. By breathing in or swallowing asbestos fibers, a person can come to suffer from diseases such as lung cancer or mesothelioma several decades later. Asbestos exposure took place on the USS R-18 (SS-95), as wall insulation contained this carcinogenic mineral, so the Navy veterans who served on it are highly encouraged to undergo regular medical examinations to ensure their lungs have not been affected by any disease.
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