USS Beatty DD-640

Gleaves-class destroyers were a type of vessel designed by the naval architectural firm of Gibbs and Cox, built between 1938 and 1942. The Navy purchased a total of 62 of these destroyers. Displacing more than 1,600 tons and measuring more than 348 feet, the Gleaves-class and virtually identical Benson-class (which had flat-sided stacks) were capable of traveling at a top speed of 37.4 knots.

Construction on the USS Beatty (DD-640) began at the Charleston Navy Yard in South Carolina on 1 May 1941 and was completed less than two weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor. She was commissioned on 7 May 1942 and Lieutenant Commander Frederick Stelter Jr. was assigned as the ship's commander.

After her shakedown cruise, the Beatty completed escort duty through the summer of 1942, with a brief period of anti-submarine warfare training. On 25 August, she returned to Charleston for repairs and maintenance, then sailed to the Caribbean for convoy duty and anti-submarine patrols. She returned to Charleston on 8 October where she was outfitted for her next mission.

A week later, the Beatty joined Task Group 34.10 to participate in Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of North Africa. The group reached the coast of Morocco during the night on 7 November and the Beatty patrolled for German U-boats until ordered to take position for bombardment of enemy shore positions at 4:15 the next morning. For the rest of the month, the Beatty continued anti-submarine patrols, returning to the United States in late November for repairs and upgrades at the New York Navy Yard.

Following the repair work, Beatty completed three voyages between New York and Morocco before she was reassigned to Norfolk for escort and training duty at the end of April 1943. On 8 June, she was ordered to escort a convoy bound for Algeria, arriving a little over two weeks later.

On 5 July, the Beatty received orders to proceed to Sicily to support the invasion of the island. Engaging enemy aircraft during the landings, Beatty was able to avoid damage except for shell fragments from "friendly fire" resulting from the confusion in the wake of repeated aerial attacks. She narrowly missed by a 500-pound bomb that exploded off her stern, and was fortunately not damaged.

Escorting a convoy back to New York, Beatty again underwent repairs at the New York Navy Yard from 3 to 21 August 1943, then returned to the Mediterranean. She went into combat almost immediately. The action for the USS Beatty culminated in a battle with German Ju-88 dive-bombers on the night of 2 September. Joining with a convoy bound for New York, Beatty returned again to the Navy Yard on September 21 for maintenance and voyage repairs.

On 6 November 1943, Beatty was part of a submarine screen for convoy sailing between Ulster and the Mediterranean. Bringing up the rear of the formation, her radar picked up five incoming enemy aircraft just after 6 p.m. In the ensuing battle, a German Ju-88 dive-bomber was able to drop a torpedo that struck Beatty, causing her to break in two. The vessel sank five hours later.

Asbestos Risks

Throughout history, those who serve their country understand that their daily duties come with expected dangers and risks. While most comprehend the danger of enemy attack, for some time many were unaware of another serious danger aboard ships and vessels in the Navy. Asbestos exposure frequently occurred aboard ships such as the USS Beatty since the toxic mineral was widely used for its insulation abilities and natural resistance to heat and fire.

Exposure to asbestos can result in the development of serious asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses can be hard to tell apart from a variety of other diseases, since they can have similar symptoms to more common illnesses such as influenza. Understanding mesothelioma symptoms can aid in early diagnosis which may make treating the asbestos-related cancer more effective. If you worked aboard USS Beatty during your career or have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and wish to learn more about symptoms, treatment and legal options, please click here and Asbestos.com will send you a comprehensive complimentary packet.

During an enemy attack or severe storm, asbestos fibers may have broken off into the air where those aboard a ship or vessel could inhale or ingest them into the body. Asbestos exposure was certainly an additional hazard when a naval vessel suffered battle damage, however, even during peaceful times, those who worked on naval vessels like USS Beatty still faced at least a certain level of exposure since nearly every area of a vessel contained asbestos. Asbestos was often prevalent near ship's conduits and engines, and those who worked in such places were especially at risk. Those who worked on the construction or maintenance of the USS Beatty or other destroyers may also have been exposed to asbestos.

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Destroyers Index