USS S-46 SS 157

The USS S-46 SS 157 was an S-class submarine that was launched on September 11th, 1923 from the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation out of Quincy, Massachusetts and was sponsored by a Miss Grace Roosevelt. The submarine was commissioned on June 5th, 1925 under the command of Lieutenant Commander Hubert V. LaBombard. After completing shakedown trials and operational exercises off New England the S-46 was finally ready for true action and sailed south towards the Caribbean Sea joining Submarine Division 19 on September 26th at Coco Solo where she began training and experimenting with fleet problems.

In 1927 Submarine Division 19 was transferred to San Diego Bay, California where the S-46 arrived at its new home port at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on July 31st. She then proceeded into the deep Pacific where she arrived at Pearl Harbor under orders to participate in strategic tactical exercises as well as running fleet warfare scenarios along with other battle ready submarines. From 1928 until 1936 she operated throughout the Pacific between San Diego, California and the Hawaiian Islands conducting missions mainly with the Rotating Reserve Division 14.

In the spring of 1941 while she was attached as a unit of Submarine Division 11, she was ordered to New London, Connecticut along the eastern seaboard to train at the Submarine School there, and while she was receiving a brief overhaul at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941. When the United States was thrust into World War II in December of 1941 she immediately departed from her station and attended the Panama Canal Zone. She then transited the canal to join with the Royal Australian Navy to conduct sound training exercises in order to defend their northern coastline.

On June 3rd of 1942 she commenced search and destroy missions throughout the northern waters of New Britain. She returned to port at Brisbane, Australia for refueling and supplies. From July 20th to August 15th she departed Australia in order to hunt enemy cargo ships along documented shipping routes near the Solomon Islands. Immediately after the Japanese Imperial Fleet formally surrendered, the S-46 was ordered back to the mainland. The USS S-46 SS 157 was officially decommissioned on November 2nd, 1945. She was awarded one battle star for her brave service during World War II.

The USS S-46 SS 157 and her crew fought bravely, but what her crews didn’t know is that the submarines and ships in their proud fleet had materials made from asbestos on board. Because asbestos is a highly toxic and deadly material, this put the crewmembers as well as anyone who came into contact with it in grave danger. Any exposure to asbestos has proven t0 lead to the development of the asbestos cancer known as mesothelioma and other respiratory disease. Any veteran crewmember who served aboard a naval vessel such as the USS S-46 SS 157 should monitor their health closely and have their physician thoroughly evaluate them and take necessary steps towards administering and receiving treatment.

Last modified: December 09 2009.