USS Briscoe (DD-977)

The USS Briscoe (DD-977) was a Spruance-class destroyer built at the Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries in Pascagoula, Mississippi. She was laid down 21 July 1975, launched 28 December 1976 and commissioned 3 June 1978.

Service History

The Briscoe operated out of Norfolk, Virginia during her entire 25-year career, during which she served in the Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Black Sea, Baltic Sea, Red Sea and Mediterranean. In 1980, after less than two years in the water, the Briscoe was awarded the Battenberg Cup for finest ship in the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. During the winter of 1981-82, she was involved in firing trials in support of the SALGP (Semi-Active Laser Guided Projectile) off the coast of Vieques, Puerto Rico.

The Briscoe was part of Operation Urgent Fury, the invasion of Grenada in 1983. She later joined the multinational peacekeeping forces off the coast of Lebanon. In 1990, Briscoe was involved in NATO operations in the Baltic. The Briscoe was deployed two times to the North Red Sea for Maritime Interception Operations in support of UN sanctions against Iraq. Briscoe established a record, boarding 275 merchant vessel boardings during the first of her two deployments to the area.

During her second Red Sea deployment in March 1994, Briscoe responded to a distress call from an Egyptian passenger ferry. She served as the On-Scene Commander for ensuing rescue efforts for the over 500 passengers, coordinating the actions of the numerous vessels in the area.

In 1996, Briscoe deployed to the Mediterranean and Black Sea for a six-month tour of duty. During this period, she was also involved with Operation Atlas Hinge with the Tunisian navy and Operations Shark Hunt and Jaws, an undersea warfare exercise in the Central and Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Briscoe took part in Exercise Classica 96 from 31 August through 9 September as part of the Partnership for Peace. The operation included ships from the U.S. 6th Fleet, Black Sea and units from the naval forces of Italy, Ukraine and Greece.

Fate

The USS Briscoe was decommissioned in October 2003 and sunk during a target exercise in late August 2005.

Asbestos Risks

Asbestos was commonly installed for pipe insulation and for fireproofing in every Navy destroyer. While nearly all areas of a ship such as the USS Briscoe offered a real danger of asbestos contamination, the ship's engine room and engineering spaces generally were areas where seamen or shipyard workers were most likely to be endangered by asbestos fibers. Increased risk of being subjected to extensive asbestos contact occurred when a warship was hit, in conflict or through misfortune, as that often uncovered asbestos-laden components to the open air.

With asbestos, the worst risk of exposure happens when fibers deteriorate and become exposed. Asbestos exposure is a causative factor associated with multiple forms of mesothelioma and other major health issues. As most asbestos-related problems can be hard to diagnose because the symptoms can be mistaken for those of other illnesses, navy personnel who were exposed to asbestos fibers should notify their physicians about this history.

As with servicemen on her sister destroyers, the crewmen who served aboard the Briscoe were at risk for asbestos exposure. The troops who worked aboard the Briscoe were also exposed to asbestos fibers in the daily conduct of their loyal service, as were repair personnel such as welders and electricians who worked on the Briscoe when the vessel was in port.

Those who have contracted an illness related to asbestos exposure may have legal options for compensation. Many asbestos-contaminated materials were made by manufacturers who knew the dangers of asbestos but elected not to mention it to workers. Because of this, many have received financial assistance to help pay for medical expenses and lost wages. For more information, please fill out the request form on this page to receive a free informational packet.

Sources

Destroyers Index