Naval Submarine Base New London, located in Groton, Connecticut, is the United States Navy’s primary Atlantic submarine base — home port to the Atlantic Fleet’s nuclear attack submarines throughout the Cold War and beyond. Known as “the Home of the Submarine Force,” Naval Submarine Base New London has operated since 1868 and served as the training ground for the Navy’s submarine service as well as the homeport for dozens of nuclear and diesel-electric submarines. Submarines returning to Naval Submarine Base New London from patrols underwent maintenance, refit, and periodic overhaul — work performed in the base’s maintenance facilities and drydock piers where asbestos-insulated submarine systems were repaired and upgraded. Shore facilities at the base were also constructed using asbestos-containing building materials standard to mid-twentieth century Navy construction. Publicly filed asbestos litigation records document Naval Submarine Base New London as a recognized asbestos exposure venue in multiple independent documents, with personal testimony from veterans who served at the base.

Sources of Asbestos Exposure at Naval Submarine Base New London

Submarine maintenance and refit: Submarines homeported at New London underwent regular maintenance, system repairs, and periodic refit at the base’s maintenance facilities. Refit work on nuclear submarines required disturbing asbestos-insulated piping in reactor and engine room spaces — the most intense asbestos exposure environment in submarine maintenance.

Submarine school training: The Naval Submarine School at Groton trained submarine personnel in every aspect of submarine operation, including engineering spaces. Training on actual or mockup submarine engineering systems involved working in environments with asbestos-insulated piping and equipment.

Shore facility construction and maintenance: Naval Submarine Base New London’s barracks, administrative buildings, training facilities, and technical shops were built during the asbestos construction era using asbestos pipe insulation, asbestos-containing floor tile, and asbestos-containing ceiling materials. Maintenance and renovation of these facilities disturbed asbestos-containing materials.

Tender and support ship operations: Submarine tenders (AS-class vessels) homeported at New London performed submarine maintenance alongside the piers, bringing asbestos-containing equipment and materials directly to submarines in the water.

Navy veterans who served at Naval Submarine Base New London — whether as submarine crew, submarine school trainees, shore staff, or maintenance personnel — who subsequently developed mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, or pleural disease, may qualify for:

  • VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) for veterans with documented duty at Naval Submarine Base New London, particularly those assigned to submarine maintenance or school training involving engineering systems
  • Civil claims against asbestos product manufacturers whose materials were present at Naval Submarine Base New London

Key documents:

  • DD-214 or service records — documenting duty at Naval Submarine Base New London or service aboard submarines homeported at Groton
  • Submarine school records — documentation of Naval Submarine School attendance at Groton
  • Diagnosis — mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, or pleural disease

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Exposure documentation derived from publicly filed asbestos litigation records including multiple independent documents establishing the presence of asbestos at Naval Submarine Base New London, formal venue identification of Submarine Base New London (CT) in the national asbestos litigation framework, and personal testimony from veterans who served at the Groton submarine base. This does not constitute legal or medical advice.