USS Fall River (CA-131)

USS Fall River (CA-131) was a Baltimore-class heavy cruiser built by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation in Camden, New Jersey. Launched on 13 August 1944, the vessel was commissioned on 1 July 1945 under the command of Capt. D. S. Crawford.

The Baltimore-class cruisers were the last such vessels built during World War II. Cruisers were meant to fill the gap between small, fast, maneuverable and lightly armed destroyers and full-sized, heavily armed battleships. Ideally, they combined the speed and maneuverability of the former with the firepower and range of the latter. Some cruisers from the late World War II era were later converted into guided missile cruisers and the last vessel of that type was retired in 1980.

Baltimore-class cruisers such as the USS Fall River saw virtually no surface action during World War II, although a few did function as carrier escorts.

On 31 October 1945, the USS Fall River reported to the Norfolk Naval Operations Base. From this home port, she engaged in experimental development operations until 31 January 1946. The cruiser was then assigned to JTF 1, organized to conduct the atomic weapons tests in the Marshall Islands known as Operation Crossroads during the summer of 1946.

In preparation for the tests, the USS Fall River sailed to San Pedro, California. From 16 February to 6 March 1946, she underwent alternations in order to provide flagship accommodations. Reporting to Pearl Harbor on 17 March, Rear Admiral F. G. Fahrion came aboard the vessel and was designated commander of the target vessel's group for the tests. As Admiral Fahrion's flagship, the USS Fall River sailed in the Marshalls from 21 May until 14 September.

After crew training along the California coast, the USS Fall River served a tour of duty in the Far East as the flagship of Cruiser Division 1. This voyage lasted from 12 January until June of 1947. She then reported to the Puget Sound Navy Yard in Bremerton, Washington, where she was assigned to the Pacific mothball fleet 31 October 1947.

The USS Fall River was struck from the Navy list on 19 February 1971 and was sold to the Zidell Explorations Corporation of Portland, Oregon 18 months later. The tip of her bow is now on display at Battleship Cove, a nonprofit maritime museum in Fall River, Massachusetts.

Asbestos Risks

Whether performing duties during peaceful times or times of war, servicemen and servicewomen have always accepted that serving in the armed forces brings with it expected dangers. Though some dangers are predicted, the danger of asbestos exposure aboard ships and vessels was a hazard unknown by many.

To protect those aboard a ship and the ship itself from fire and excessive heat, fireproof materials are used frequently when building a ship. During the period when the USS Fall River and other heavy cruisers were constructed, the naturally occurring mineral asbestos was often used in shipyards because of its ability to withstand flames. Unfortunately inhalation of asbestos fibers, which occurred frequently aboard cruisers like the USS Fall River, can cause serious diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma. The fibers can cause infection and inflammation in the body once inhaled or ingested.

Those who worked on the construction or repairs of ships and vessels and veterans who served aboard these ships may have inhaled asbestos fibers in various circumstances. If a vessel was damaged or certain equipment became worn, asbestos fibers could become airborne and inhaled or ingested by anyone nearby.

Diseases associated with asbestos exposure can be hard to distinguish from a variety of other disorders since symptoms may resemble less serious conditions. If you worked on the construction of the USS Fall River or served aboard the vessel, you may wish to learn more about symptoms of mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. Please click here to receive a complimentary comprehensive packet about mesothelioma.

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