Asbestos Exposure on Ships:

USS INDIANAPOLIS CA 35 CRUISER

The Portland class cruiser known as the USS Indianapolis is one of the most historically packed ships of the United States Navy. After a successful delivery of Atomic Bomb parts, the USS Indianapolis was returning home, when she was attacked and sunk by a Japanese submarine. Around 300 crew members died while the ship was sinking, and another 600 died while waiting in shark infested waters for rescue. This took place in the Philippine Sea on the 30th of July 1945.

Being the second Navy ship to bare the name, she was built by the New York Shipbuilding Company in Camden, New Jersey. Work on the cruiser began on the 31st of March 1930. USS Indianapolis saw water on the 7th of November 1931 and was commissioned on the 15th of November 1932 under sponsorship from Miss Lucy Taggart, daughter of the late Senator Thomas Taggart, a former mayor of Indianapolis. Her commander was Captain John M. Smeallie. USS Indianapolis received ten battle stars for her services and for her crew’s bravery, among other military and navy awards.

She was built following these general specifications:

  • Portland class cruiser
  • 9800 tons heavy
  • 610 feet long
  • The steam turbines used as propulsion provided over 100000 horse power
  • She could reach almost 33 knots
  • 1269 officers and crew served on the USS Indianapolis during the War

Asbestos on the USS Indianapolis has serious consequences

Experts that studied the evolution of asbestos and how it affects human kind, say that most of the people that worked or served on board these asbestos cruisers, even if exposed to a large and constant dose of the mineral, few of them ever developed any type of related disease. This is mostly because most of them did not outlive the latency period of the disease, experts say. Nevertheless, for those that are still alive, the risk remains.

Have you been exposed to asbestos on the USS Indianapolis? Contact an attorney!

We can imagine that when dealing with a disease such as those caused by asbestos, your only thought will be how best to treat it. Problem is treatment is expensive, and you might not afford the type of treatment that is proven to be the most effective. A specialized lawyer can greatly help in this way by helping you gather the necessary funds.

Contact an asbestos specialist for further details about this, it is completely free.