USS Scorpion (SS-278)
History of the USS Scorpion Submarine
The USS Scorpion (SS-278) was ordered for the U.S. Navy during World War II. Her keel was laid down at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in New Hampshire on March 20, 1942. She was launched on July 20, 1942 and commissioned on October 1, 1942 under the command of Lieutenant Commander William N. Wylie.
The USS Scorpion departed Pearl Harbor on April 5, 1943 for her first war patrol off the east coast of Honshu. Fourteen days later, she laid mines off the coast of Kashima Nada in Japan. She sank the Japanese auxiliary gunboat Meiji Maru No. 1 the following day and three sampans on April 22. On April 27, her torpedoes sank the merchant cargo ship Yuzan Maru. The submarine then sank the guardboat Ebisu Maru No. 5 with her gunfire three days later. During this fight, she lost Lieutenant Commander R.M. Raymond to enemy gunfire. This patrol ended on May 8 at Pearl Harbor.
On May 29, the USS Scorpion sailed for her second war patrol in the Yellow Sea. Her torpedoes sank the Japanese merchant cargo ships Anzan Maru and Kokuryu Maru on July 3. The submarine was damaged by the resulting depth charge attack, and was attacked again by bombers on her way toward Midway. She ended her patrol on July 26 at Pearl Harbor.
After refitting at Pearl Harbor, the USS Scorpion got underway for her third war patrol. She performed reconnaissance in the Mariana Islands at the end of October and early November. On November 13, her torpedoes damaged the Japanese fleet oiler Shiretoko. Her patrol ended on December 5 back at Pearl Harbor.
The USS Scorpion departed for her fourth patrol on December 29 in the Yellow Sea. One of her crewmen had a fractured upper arm, and she requested a rendezvous with the USS Herring to transfer him on January 5, 1944. The two submarines were able to rendezvous but could not perform the transfer due to heavy seas. After reporting “Scorpion reports case under control,” the submarine was never seen or heard from again.
Japanese records indicate that the USS Scorpion was not lost to enemy antisubmarine tactics. Instead, it is believed that she hit a mine. The submarine received three battle stars for her service in World War II.
The use of asbestos was common in shipbuilding components for much of the 20th Century because of its resistance to heat, fire, water and corrosion. Because of their asbestos exposure onboard ship and in the shipyards, seaman, shipyard workers and longshoreman are at risk for developing asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma.
Sources include:
Asbestos and Ship-Building: Fatal Consequences, by John Hedley-Whyte and Debra R Milamed
