The USS Sangamon (CVE-26) was a Sangamon-class escort carrier laid down on March 13, 1939, and launched on November 4, the same year. It was commissioned on October 23, 1940, under Commander J. H. Duncan’s command and served in the US Navy for 5 years until it was struck from the Navy List on November 1, 1945. During its activity, the ship carried a complement of 830 people on board and had its main missions in Bermuda, Norfolk, Hampton Roads, San Diego, Espiritu Santo, New Caledonia, New Hebrides, and Eniwetok. After the striking, the ship was sold for scrapping. For the services brought to the country during World War II, the USS Sangamon received 8 battle stars. Military Navy ships have a deserved reputation for being loaded with asbestos as it is renowned for its fire-resistant qualities, and was the best and most cost-effective insulating material. Asbestos was used to insulate pipes, boilers and other machinery. Below deck and particularly in the engine room areas there was very poor ventilation - this created a risk of the dangerous asbestos fibers becoming airborne in a confined space. In addition, there was little or no protection worn when asbestos fixtures were being repaired or replaced.
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