As a Sturgeon-class attack submarine, the USS Sunfish was the second military ship of the U.S. Navy to be named for the ocean sunfish. The ship was built by the General Dynamics Quincy Shipbuilding Division in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1965. It was sponsored by Mrs. Robert C. Byrd, the wife of U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia. Initially, the USS Sunfish underwent shakedown and took part in various exercises such as torpedo firing, sound trials, control drills, and casualty drills.
Because there were numerous asbestos products aboard the ship, people who served on the USS Sunfish should keep a close eye on their health, as exposure to asbestos can lead to numerous awful diseases within 20 to 50 years from the first contact with the mineral. The ship was scrapped in 1997 via the Ship and Submarine Recycling Program. Those who were diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases may be able to file claims with the VA and asbestos trust funds as well for monetary compnesation.
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