USS Mahan DD-364

The USS Mahan (DD-364) was the lead or "name" ship of the Mahan class of destroyers. She was one of 16 ships in her class, laid down on 12 June 1934 by United Dry Docks Inc. of Staten Island, New York, and launched on 15 October 1935. She was commissioned on 18 September 1935 and served in World War II until she was scuttled after being struck by Japanese kamikazes.

Service in World War II

The Mahan undertook her shakedown cruise off the coast of South America and in the Caribbean. She stayed in the Atlantic until the middle of 1937, when she was reassigned primarily to duties in the Pacific.

When the Japanese attack came on 7 December 1941, the Mahan was at sea alongside the carrier Lexington. In the immediate aftermath, the Mahan engaged in the futile attempt to track down the attacking force. In the months that followed, the destroyer engaged in reinforcement, escort, and patrol duties around Hawaii and the U.S. west coast.

In October of 1942, after 10 months of this prior duty, the Mahan was tasked with assisting in the campaign at Guadalcanal. Later that month, she participated in the battle of the Santa Cruz Islands and was actually damaged in a collision with the U.S. battleship South Dakota. The collision resulted in damage that had to be repaired, and so the Mahan withdrew to Pearl Harbor until January 1943. After repairs she continued escort duties until the middle of 1943, when she joined the 7th Fleet for operations in New Guinea.

Following the seizure of Los Negros Island in the Admiralties in February of 1944, the Mahan retreated to the west coast for a lengthy overhaul that lasted until the middle of 1944. After this overhaul, she returned to the 7th Fleet in the western Pacific and engaged in convoy escort duty as well as anti-submarine patrols. In early December she took part in the landings on Leyte.

Sinking of the Mahan

On 7 December 1944, while engaged in the invasion, the Mahan was attacked by a significant number of Japanese aircraft. While she was successful in downing three of her attackers, another three suicide planes managed to push through and impacted the vessel. The fires that resulted from the explosions spread throughout the ship and threatened her magazines. The order to abandon ship was given, and surrounding vessels picked up survivors. An hour later, fearing that the damaged ship might be salvaged by the Japanese, the U.S. ship Walke scuttled the Mahan by gunfire and torpedoes.

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 Mahan 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 fought aboard the Mahan were at risk for asbestos exposure, especially since the ship saw heavy damage in combat and went through serious redesigns and overhauls. On top of the large-scale damage and redesign work, the troops who worked aboard the Mahan 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 Mahan 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