USS Constellation
The USS Constellation was a Kitty-Hawk-class supercarrier built at the New York Naval Shipyard under a naval contract awarded in 1956. The Constellation bore the name of 2 previous vessels that had been decommissioned. Among these vessels was the 1854 Cutter that now serves as a museum in Baltimore's inner harbor. The keel for the most recent ship of that name was laid in 1957 in the Brooklyn Navy Yard and was launched in 1960. During a construction accident in December of 1960, a serious fire broke out within the ship, killing nearly 50 men and injuring many others. The damaged sustained cost almost $75 million and delayed the commissioning for seven months.
Constellation was delivered to the Navy in October of 1961, costing $400 million dollars in construction and repair costs. The aircraft carrier would be the last one built outside the Newport News Naval Shipyard. Throughout the 1960's the Constellation was among the more involved carriers in the early days of the Vietnam War. Thousands of sorties flew from her deck into the Gulf of Tonkin and Northern Laos.
In 1965, the Constellation spent the majority of year in naval shipyards being repaired and modified for further action in Southeast Asia, participating in major air strikes in Vietnam and over other countries involved at the time. Even after the Vietnam conflict, the ship remained an important carrier in the Navy's expansive fleet. Through the 1970's and 80's the Constellation served throughout the world participating in support operations in Yemen and the Middle East. After 41 years of service and a final deployment in which she participated in the global war on terror in 2002, the USS Constellation was decommissioned at Naval Air Station North Island in August of 2003.
Unfortunately, there were many brave men and women who served aboard the ship and repaired the vessel who may have been exposed to the dangerous materials present on all ships. One of the materials was asbestos. Asbestos was used within boilers and other fixtures that required insulation. During her storied career, the Constellation endured 3 periods of more that 9 months of constant repairs and modifications. During each of these repairs or modifications, it is likely that some were exposed to asbestos. Asbestos has a clear relationship between exposures and respiratory illnesses such as mesothelioma. Those who worked around these materials should consult a physician for further guidance.
Last modified: December 28, 2010.
