USS Teruzuki (DD-960)

The USS Teruzuki (DD-960) was a modified Fletcher-class destroyer of the U.S. Navy built as with funds from the U.S. Military Aid Program, which was part of the US and Japan Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement ratified in March 1954.

The Teruzuki's keel was laid down at the Mitsubishi facility in Kobe, Japan, on 15 August 1958. She was launched on 24 June 1959 and commissioned into the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force on 29 February 1960.

The Fletcher-class was highly successful during the Second World War; the basic design was retained in the subsequent Sumner, Gearing, Mitscher, Forrest Sherman, Farragut and Charles Adams classes of destroyers. Approximately 150 Fletcher-class vessels were built during the Second World War. Many were transferred to other nations; the last operable Fletcher-class destroyer was retired in 2001 after 60 years of active service - a tribute to the quality of its construction.

The USS Teruzuki was decommissioned in September 1993 and broken up for scrap.

Asbestos Risks

No matter whether serving in times of peace or battle, sailors and soldiers have always known that a stint in the armed forces brings with it inherent dangers. What many didn't know about during much of the 1900s, however, was a risk that had nothing to do with mortar fire or attacks by the enemy: the danger of contracting a disease caused by asbestos exposure.

To safeguard sailors on a ship, along with the ship itself, from fire and excessive heat, fireproof materials are needed when constructing a ship. During the period that USS Teruzuki and other destroyers were built, the naturally occurring mineral asbestos was often used on ships because of its ability to insulate against flames. The problem with is that in addition to its fireproofing properties, asbestos is also associated with debilitating diseases as lung cancer and peritoneal mesothelioma. Scientists now know damage to human health happens when asbestos is broken up into small particles that are inhaled.

During an enemy attack or while working to ride out severe weather, the likelihood of someday developing peritoneal mesothelioma was probably the last thing on most sailors' thoughts. But exposure to asbestos was a significant secondary hazard of many shipboard crises, since large-scale damage to a ship frequently uncovered asbestos so that particles could be inhaled or ingested by people in close proximity. And even during peaceful times, those who served on naval vessels like USS Teruzuki still were faced with some amount of exposure since virtually all areas of the vessel contained parts made with asbestos. With asbestos being common around conduits and engines, sailors whose jobs placed them in such areas were especially at risk. Even land-based personnel like welders were subject to coming down with asbestos-related illnesses when they maintained ships like Teruzuki without using safety equipment.

Most asbestos-related disorders can take a very long time to appear. In order to make an accurate diagnosis, a doctor needs to know about a patient's experience with exposure to asbestos. Naval veterans who repaired or had a tour of duty aboard USS Teruzuki are therefore advised to discuss their service history with their healthcare providers. To learn more about the diagnostic process, available treatment options and financial assistance to help pay for medical costs, please fill in the form on this page to receive a comprehensive packet in the mail.

Source

Destroyers Index