The USS St. Louis (CL-49) was a St. Louis-class light cruiser laid down on December 10, 1936, and launched on April 15, 1938. It was commissioned on May 19, 1939, under Capt. Charles H. Morrison’s command with the hull number CL-49 and served in the U.S. Navy for 7 years until it was decommissioned on June 20, 1946. During its activities, the ship carried a complement of 868 people on board and had its main missions in Pearl Harbor, Mare Island, Manila, Kodiak Island, New Caledonia, Espiritu Santo, Surigato Strait and Kerama Retto. After decommissioning, the ship was struck from the Navy List on January 22, 1951, and sold to Brazil where it was renamed Tamandare. For the services brought to the country during World War II, the USS St. Louis received 11 battle stars. Due to their strength, as well as their resistance to heat and to many chemicals, asbestos-containing materials were extensively used in every United States Navy ship built from the 1930s to the 1970s. The fibers are not affected by heat or chemicals and do not conduct electricity, therefore, asbestos was used as an insulating material. If you are a U.S. Navy veteran who has been diagnosed with lung cancer, asbestosis, or other asbestos-related diseases, you are eligible for compensation from asbestos trust funds and VA claims.
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