The USS Arided (AK-73) was a cargo ship belonging to the Crater-class. This vessel was laid down in 1942 in Richmond, California. The Navy acquired it the same year in November. The same month, it was commissioned under the command of John B. Elaine. The ship’s initial mission was to join the Service Squadron (ServRon) 8, Pacific Fleet, carrying ammunition and supplies. The destinations it had to reach were the New Hebrides, Espiritu Santo, New Caledonia, Auckland, Nouméa, the Solomon Islands. After the end of the war, the USS Arided was taken to Suisan Bay and prepared for the layup. In 1962, it was scrapped.
The dangers of asbestos exposure only became widely known in the 1980s which means that all the ships built before this were laden with asbestos-containing products. The Navy used the toxic mineral because of its affordability, tensile strength, and resistance to heat and chemical damage, all properties that made it a good insulation, fireproofing, and building material. Navy veterans who got sick because of being exposed to asbestos during their service are eligible for free health care, disability compensation, and other VA benefits.
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