USS Tucson CL-98

The USS Tucson was originally an Atlanta-class cruiser, and later was modified to be an Oakland-class cruiser. Construction began on December 23, 1942, and she was launched on September 3, 1944 under the sponsorship of Mrs. Emmett S. Claunch, Sr. She was then commissioned on February 3, 1945 under the command of Captain Arthur D. Ayrault.

History

The Tucson had her shakedown out of San Diego before heading to Pearl Harbor in mid-May for additional training. She arrived in Ulithi in mid-June and continued from there to the Philippines. There she joined Task Force 38. She headed out of the Leyte Gulf on July 1 to attack the Japanese home Islands and attacked Hokkaido, Honshu and Tokyo. At the end of the month, the task force hit Kobe and Nagoya. The Tucson stopped for fuel and replenishment before attacking Honshu and Tokyo again in August. The Japanese surrendered shortly thereafter.

The Tucson remained in the Far East as part of the occupation force, and in late September, she was sent back to the United States. She stopped at Pearl Harbor and San Francisco before heading to San Pedro for the Navy Day celebration in late October. From November 1945 until August 1946, she participated in gunnery training.

In September 1946, the Tucson entered the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for an overhaul that lasted three months. She then spent training out of San Diego, and in late February 1947 headed for fleet exercises out of Hawaii. She assisted with the search of survivors from the Fort Dearborn in mid-March, though she was unsuccessful.

The Tucson returned to San Diego in late March and worked along the west coast for most of the summer. In late July, she headed back to the Far East by way of Pearl Harbor and spent two months near China. She returned back to San Diego in early November, spending the rest of her active career along the west coast.

On February 9, 1949, the Tucson started preparations for inactivation. She was decommissioned on June 11, 1949 and was removed from the Navy list on June 1, 1966. She was used as a test hulk until 1970 and sold for scrap in 1971. The base of one of her rotating gun turrets was used for the Van deGraaf particle accelerator at the University of Arizona in Tucson until 2005.

Asbestos Risks

The Tucson enjoyed a brief career as a warship, but saw her share of the skirmishes and duties. However, wartime risks aside she did have one major hazard - the fact that she was built using asbestos.

Asbestos was commonly used for insulation on battleships. Resistant to heat and fire, it could be found in boiler and engine rooms. It could also be found throughout the ships around steam pipes and wiring, as well as in insulation tiles.

While the insulation properties of asbestos were known, what wasn't widely understood was the fact that the mineral is quite dangerous. When asbestos is disturbed, such as is done during the cutting of asbestos insulation for installation, there are tiny particles that break away from the source. These particles contaminate the air and are easily inhaled. Once inhaled, they become lodged in the linings of the lungs and other major organs. This causes inflammation and irritation that can later develop into asbestosis and mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is an extremely aggressive and deadly form of cancer, for which there is no known cure. Sadly, it could have been prevented had the sailors of the Tucson and the shipyard workers been warned of the hazards associated with it. Since they were not, many have since filed lawsuits against the companies responsible for their exposure. Thousands of asbestos cases have been filed nationwide, many by veterans. Millions of dollars have been paid out in settlements and jury awards. This money has been used to help finance the cost of medical treatment and assist with the needs of the families left behind.

If you served aboard the Tucson and have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related medical condition, it is important to seek medical advice. It is also important to contact an asbestos lawyer. An asbestos lawyer can review your case and take the necessary steps to ensure that you and your family get the compensation that you deserve. For more information, please fill out the form on this page to receive a comprehensive packet in the mail.

Cruisers Index