USS Chase (DD-323)
The USS Chase (DD-323) served in the US Navy for a decade during the early part of the 20th century. She was named for Admiral Jehu Valentine Chase who served as Commander in Chief, United States Fleet and Chairman of the General Board. Chase was laid down as a Clemson-class destroyer.
Construction
Chase was laid down at San Francisco, California by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation in May 1919, launched in September, and commissioned in March 1921 with Lieutenant Commander C.E. Battle, Jr., in command. Carrying a crew of 114, Chase was 314 feet, five inches long, with a beam of 31 feet, eight inches and draught of nine feet, 10 inches. Chase had a displacement of 1,215 tons and was propelled by geared turbines supporting a cruising speed of 35 knots. She was armed with four 4-inch rapid-fire guns, one three-inch anti-aircraft gun, and twelve 21-inch torpedo tubes.
Naval History
Chase operated mostly along the west coast of the United States. During her career, Chase participated in training operations and fleet activities, aiding the Navy in developing its capabilities in warfare in preparation for World War II. Chase was later commanded by Lieutenant Commander Herbert Aloysius Jones and Commander James Alexander Logan. In 1923, Chase was involved in the Presidential Fleet Review at Seattle, Washington and, along with many other ships, was deployed to Nicaraguan waters in 1927 during a civil war.
Chase was deployed to Hawaii in 1928, along with other members of the Naval Reserve. During this deployment, Chase conducted training activities with the fleet, and then operated off San Diego beginning in 1929, along with Saratoga and Lexington. Chase assisted in developing strategies for aircraft carrier operations during this time. In May 1930, Chase was put out of commission at San Diego, and then sold for scrap in 1931.
Asbestos Risk on the USS Chase (DD-323)
The use of asbestos in the construction of oceangoing ships was required by law in the United States in the early 1930s, after a fire at sea aboard a cruise ship caused the deaths of 137 passengers and crew. Vessels like Chase utilized asbestos insulation in large quantities, particularly in boilers and engine compartments, and to insulate steam pipes all over the ship. When asbestos insulation is damaged it can become friable, which means that individual asbestos fibers can break off and escape into the atmosphere, allowing them to be inhaled or ingested by sailors and shipfitters, increasing the chances of contracting mesothelioma. Once asbestos enters the body, the fibers get stuck in the mesothelium, a thin body of cells which wraps around and buffers the body's interior organs, and in time this infiltration may lead to mesothelioma.
Presently medicine has not developed a cure for mesothelioma; however, dedicated doctors like Dr. David Sugarbaker are always working to create new treatment methods. Because malignant mesothelioma is a very uncommon disease, not all clinics or health-care providers can provide mesothelioma treatment. Victims diagnosed with pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma may be interested in obtaining more information about their legal rights. An experienced mesothelioma attorney can be a valuable resource for that kind of information.
Additional information about the disease can be found in our mesothelioma information package. It is a comprehensive guide containing information about victim’s legal rights, treatment options, mesothelioma experts and more. Simply fill in the form on this page and we'll mail you the package, at no charge.
Sources
Haze Gray & Underway. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. DD-323.
http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/destroy/dd323txt.htm Retrieved 4 January 2011.
NavSource Naval History, USS Chase (DD-323).
http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/323.htm Retrieved 4 January 2011.
