USS Hobson (DD-464)
The USS Hobson (DD-464) served in the U.S. Navy for a few years in the early 20th century. She was named for Rear Admiral Richmond Pearson Hobson who served in the Spanish-American War. Hobson was laid down as a Gleaves-class destroyer.
Construction
Hobson was laid down by the Charleston Navy Yard in November 1940, launched in September 1941, and commissioned in January 1942 with Commander R.N. McFarlane in command. Driven by Westinghouse geared turbines, Hobson had a cruising speed of 35 knots and a crew capacity of 208. She was armed with four five-inch anti-aircraft guns, six one-half inch machine guns, and ten 21-inch torpedo tubes.
Naval History
Hobson sailed with aircraft carrier Ranger from Norfolk to Africa in July 1942, as an escort, and then was assigned to training exercises off the east coast of the United States until October. Following an escort run to Bermuda, Hobson joined the Center Attack Group for the November assault on North Africa, during which she operated as a screen for Ranger.
Hobson participated in fleet exercises off the east coast, and rejoined Ranger as part of the anti-submarine patrol group in the western Atlantic in January 1943. In July, Hobson served convoy duty with HMS Queen Mary, which brought Prime Minister Winston Churchill to the Quebec Conference. She then joined the British Home Fleet in August to guide supply convoys to Russia, and also participated in an attack on German Shipping off Norway in October.
In early 1944, Hobson operated with aircraft carrier Bogue as part of a submarine hunter-killer group, and then sailed for Northern Ireland prior to the invasion of France. She was assigned to the Utah Beach Assault Group, and during the Normandy invasion fired on enemy positions and rescued survivors of mined Corry. In July and August, Hobson operated in the Mediterranean and was assigned to convoy duties out of Taranto, Italy, and also took part in the invasion of Southern France.
Hobson was converted into destroyer-minesweeper DMS-26 at Charleston, South Carolina in October. She then sailed to Okinawa, Japan in March 1945 to conduct minesweeping, patrol, and radar picket operations. Following repairs at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Hobson served off the east coast and in the Caribbean, and as a plane guard and screening vessel in the Atlantic in 1950. Hobson collided with aircraft carrier Wasp in April 1952 and was destroyed with the loss of 176 crew members.
Asbestos Risk on the USS Hobson (DD-464)
Fibrous asbestos has many properties that make it seem ideal for use in naval vessels, such as flame- and corrosion-resistance. Because it was also inexpensive and durable, the U.S. Navy made heavy use of materials containing asbestos during this era. The engineering and boiler compartments aboard Hobson used large quantities of asbestos as insulation for steam pipes, to line steam boilers, and to fireproof components of the ship's power plant. Other areas of the ship featured paints and cements mixed with asbestos.
While many of her crew was lost following the collision with Wasp, survivors of the Hobson were likely exposed to asbestos during their service. Such exposure can lead to serious illnesses, including mesothelioma. Asbestos diseases often take decades to develop, and Navy veterans are amongst those at the greatest risk.
Sources
Haze Gray & Underway. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. DD-464. (http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/destroy/dd464txt.htm) Retrieved 18 January 2011.
NavSource Naval History, USS Hobson (DD-464).
(http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/464.htm) Retrieved 18 January 2011.
