USS Andromeda (AKA-15)

The USS Andromeda (AKA-15) was the lead ship of the Andromeda-class of attack cargo ships. These attack cargo ships, designated AKA, served in World War II as armed support vessels, able to carry and launch amphibious assault vessels as well as provide covering fire with their cannons.

The Andromeda was built over the course of just three months by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, located in Kearny, New Jersey. Commissioned on April 2, 1943, the Andromeda conducted preliminary shakedown trials and in early June began her first deployment in the Mediterranean. The Andromeda’s first combat action came in early July, when she played a key role in the invasion of Sicily. After safely and successfully supporting the assault on the Mediterranean’s largest island, Andromeda’s crew regrouped and began to prepare for the Allied invasion of Europe. Andromeda spent most of September, 1943 shuttling troops and supplies between Africa and the Allied beachhead at Salerno, Italy.

After her tour in the Mediterranean, the Andromeda set sail for Norfolk, Virginia with brief stops in several English ports. During her time in Norfolk, the Andromeda underwent a month-long overhaul. This routine maintenance procedure involved standard upkeep and equipment replacement, but even these simple operations released asbestos fibers from within the Andromeda’s hull. After her overhaul, the Andromeda retraced her course through southern England on her way back to the Mediterranean, where she once again began shuttle runs between Africa and the Italian peninsula.

Service during World War II

As 1944 wore on, Andromeda began preparations for the invasion of southern France, which was to take place in early August. This operation, which existed under the code name “Dragoon,” was a success and the USS Andromeda earned one of her three Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medals during the invasion. In late October, the Andromeda pointed her bow west and sailed for the United States, arriving in Boston two weeks later.

While in Boston the Andromeda underwent another round of maintenance and repairs. Work crews quickly descended upon the Andromeda and the rapid speed at which they worked had the Andromeda ready for action less than a month after entering Boston. Unfortunately, these workers may have experienced significant amounts of asbestos exposure during Andromeda’s maintenance period.

The Andromeda spent the rest of 1944 preparing for a change of scenery, as her last deployment orders had her tasked with sailing into the Pacific Ocean. The vessel transited the Panama Canal on New Year’s Eve in 1944 and reached the Pacific on the first morning of 1945. The Andromeda wasted no time before getting to work, participating in the invasion of Okinawa on April 1, 1945. While supporting the Allied invasion on that infamous island, Andromeda fell under repeated Japanese aerial assaults, but her crew successfully repelled each and every wave of Japanese aircraft. The USS Andromeda continued to transit the Pacific, bringing supplies to and from Hawaii and U.S. forces in the West for the remainder of World War II.

Service after World War II

Following the end of World War II, the Andromeda spent a significant amount of time making cargo runs throughout the Pacific. When the Korean War broke out, the Andromeda immediately sailed for the Korean Peninsula to support U.N. operations in the area. During her service in Korea, the USS Andromeda earned five battle stars and the last combat recognition she would receive before her decommissioning. While transiting the northern Pacific in 1955, the Andromeda struck floating ice and suffered significant damage. The Navy chose not to repair the Andromeda and she was decommissioned on May 1, 1956 and eventually sold for scrap.

Asbestos Risks

Asbestos-containing materials were often used on ships because asbestos provided insulating and fireproofing properties. The risk of fires aboard ships was a constant concern, especially during combat operations. However, any disturbance to these materials could have caused microscopic asbestos fibers to become airborne and possibly be inhaled by those nearby.
Exposure to asbestos has been linked to cause a number of serious illnesses later in life, including lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. In most cases, these illnesses take more than 10 years before showing any signs of symptoms and patients often receive a diagnosis when the disease has already progressed to advanced stages. Symptoms of mesothelioma can take as long as 50 years to arise and by then treatment options are limited.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an illness related to asbestos, you may have legal options for compensation. Many have received financial assistance to help cover medical costs and lost wages as a result of their contraction of an asbestos-related disease. If you would like more information about compensation and treatment options, please click here to receive a complimentary informational packet in the mail.

Sources:

Auxiliary Vessels Index