USS Romulus (ARL-22)

The USS Romulus (ARL-22) was an Achelous-class landing craft repair ship that served in the United States Navy during after World War II and during the Korean War. The vessel was built in 1944 by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation in Hingham, Massachusetts and was originally intended as a tank landing craft. However, the Navy decided that the Romulus would better suit the Navy’s needs as a landing craft repair ship and on December 11, 1944, the ship sailed into the Gibbs Gas Engine Works facility in Jacksonville, Florida for conversion to a repair ship.

The Romulus was decommissioned on January 8, 1945 and work began shortly thereafter. The conversion process lasted for several months and involved significant modifications. The extent of the overhaul likely resulted in the release of asbestos fibers and those working in the area may have been exposed to the toxic substance. When the work was completed in early May, the USS Romulus was recommissioned and sailed into the Atlantic for her shakedown cruise.

Service After World War II

After her successful initial shakedown, the USS Romulus was assigned to the Navy’s Pacific Fleet and she arrived in late June, 1945. The vessel served in the western Pacific in the aftermath of World War II, servicing ships while anchored at Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan. The Romulus remained in the Pacific until early 1947, when the Navy ordered her back to the United States. On May 12, 1947, the USS Romulus was decommissioned and assigned to the Pacific Reserve Fleet.

Korean War Service

In 1952, as the Korean War continued in the western Pacific, the Navy activated the USS Romulus. The repair craft entered port in San Diego for a reactivaiton overhaul, which lasted for most of 1952. During the overhaul, repair crews upgraded and modernized the Romulus, but may have disturbed asbestos-containing materials in the process. Shipyard workers and crew members of the Romulus may have been exposed to asbestos and inhaled the toxic fibers in the air. In 1953, the ship departed San Diego for combat deployment in Inchon, Korea. In recognition of her service, the U.S. Navy awarded the Romulus and her crew with a Korean battle star.

After her successful tour of duty in Korea, the USS Romulus remained in the western Pacific until 1956, when she was ordered back to the United States. The vessel arrived in Astoria, Oregon in January, 1956 and after six months in port she was decommissioned. The Romulus remained with the Navy’s Pacific Reserve Fleet for another four years, but on October 1, 1960, she was struck from the Naval Register and transferred to the Philippine Navy.

Asbestos Risks

For as long as there have been wars, servicemen and servicewomen in the military have accepted that their lives will contain serious risks. But in addition the obvious risks one associates with military service, a hidden danger included exposure to asbestos.

The ability to stop the spreading of flames on a ship was crucial in limiting the size of accidents. During the period that the USS Romulus and other ships like her were built, the mineral known as asbestos was frequently used in shipyards because of its insulating and fireproofing capabilities. Unfortunately, the use of asbestos has exposed many past crew members and shipyard workers to toxic asbestos fibers. Exposure to asbestos has been noted to cause the development of several conditions, including lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. 

Boiler rooms and engine rooms were common locations for exposure to asbestos. The high temperatures in these areas caused the need for fireproofing and asbestos was used on many products. Other areas throughout ships that contained asbestos were pipes, walls and ceilings that need to be insulated. Any disturbance to these materials may have caused the dispersion of asbestos fibers where they could be inhaled.

If you or a loved one have been exposed to asbestos and have since contracted an asbestos-related disease, please click here to receive a free informational packet about treatment options and compensation. Many who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related conditions have received financial assistance to help cover medical costs and lost income.

Sources:

Auxiliary Vessels Index