USS Porter (DD-356)
The USS Porter (DD-356) served in the U.S. Navy for less than a decade in the early 20th century before being sunk by a Japanese submarine. She was named for Captain David Porter who served in the War of 1812. The flagship of the Porter-class destroyers, she earned one battle star for her service in World War II.
Construction
Porter was laid down by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation in December 1933, launched in December 1935, and commissioned in August 1936 with Commander Forrest B. Royal in command. Carrying a crew of 194, Porter was 381 feet long and armed with eight 5-inch anti-aircraft guns, eight 1.1 inch anti-aircraft guns, and eight 21-inch torpedo tubes. Porter displaced 2,597 tons, was driven by geared turbines, had a cruising speed of 37 knots, and had a range of 6,500 nautical miles at 12 knots.
Naval History
Porter embarked on a voyage to Europe in 1936, and then attended the coronation ceremonies in honor of George VI in May 1937, at St. John’s, Newfoundland. Arriving at San Francisco, California in August, Porter began operating with the Pacific Fleet and was stationed at San Diego Naval Yard. Porter set sail for Pearl Harbor on December 5, 1941, and missed the Japanese attack, but conducted patrols with cruisers and destroyers in the area until March 1942 and returned to the west coast with a convoy later in the month.
Porter returned to the west coast and served with TF 1 for four months, and then returned to Pearl Harbor in August. Participating in training exercises until October, Porter sailed for the Solomon Islands and encountered Japanese air attacks during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands in the South Pacific. During this deployment, Porter was torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-12 off Santa Cruz Island. The crew abandoned ship and Porter was later sunk by gunfire from Shaw. Porter was struck from the Navy list in November 1942.
Asbestos Risk on the USS Porter (DD-356)
Because asbestos products were used throughout Porter, practically every sailor aboard was exposed to the mineral. The Navy employed asbestos extensively up until around 1979. It was used as insulation and to fireproof equipment. It was also mixed into cements, adhesives, and paints. Many Navy veterans of World War II were later diagnosed with asbestos-related ailments.
Ships that suffered damage in combat were particularly hazardous. The torpedos that struck and eventually sunk Porter likely dislodged a significant quantity of asbestos fibers. When those fibers became airborne, they were easily inhaled by the sailors scrambling to keep the ship afloat. Sadly, those that survived the attack faced an increased risk of mesothelioma cancer later in life.
The link between naval service in World War II and asbestos exposure is well established. Veterans that were injured by asbestos can claim compensation from the companies that made the asbestos products used on their ship. If you or a loved one served aboard Porter and later became ill, speak to a mesothelioma law firm about your legal rights.
Sources
Haze Gray & Underway. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. DD-356.
http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/destroy/dd356txt.htm
NavSource Naval History, USS Porter (DD-356).
http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/356.htm
