Built by Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in 1933, the USS Pike was the first all-welded submarine of the U.S. Navy. It was sponsored by Miss Jane Logan Snyder and initially had Lieutenant Heber H. McLean in command. Due to the welded hull it had, this submarine could submerge to much greater depths than its predecessors. Following shakedown in the Atlantic, the USS Pike departed Newport in 1937 and proceeded through the Panama Canal to Naval Station San Diego. During the next year, it participated in maneuvers near Hawaii. In 1939, the USS Pike joined Submarine Squadron 5 out of Cavite. For the outstanding achievements of the crew during World War II, the submarine received 4 battle stars. The issue of asbestos exposure was very serious on the USS Pike, as the mineral was present aboard the submarine in large amounts, mainly in the form of insulation. Exposure to asbestos, which occurs by inhalation and ingestion, can lead, within 20 to 50 years, to diseases such as lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma. Thereby, veterans who served on this military vessel need to pay close attention to their health and seek medical attention as soon as they notice unusual symptoms. In 1957, the USS Pike was sold for scrap.
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