Asbestos on Navy Ships

The United States Navy used more asbestos-containing materials than any other military branch. As a result, many veterans are at risk of developing lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other diseases from asbestos on Navy ships. Those diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness may be eligible for compensation and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits.

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Written and Fact-Checked by: Lung Cancer Group

Last updated: October 1, 2024

Top Topics:

List of Ships With Asbestos
Navy Jobs at Risk
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Do U.S. Navy Ships Have Asbestos?

Yes, any U.S. Navy ship built between the 1930s and early 1980s contained asbestos in gaskets, insulation, boilers, and many other products.

Asbestos is lightweight, inexpensive, and helped to fireproof and insulate Navy ships. However, U.S. Navy veterans exposed to asbestos on ships could develop lung cancer or other diseases 10-50 years later.

The following types of U.S. Navy ships contained asbestos:

Aircraft carriers
Amphibious warships
Auxiliary ships
Battleships
Cruisers
Cutters
Destroyers
Destroyer escorts
Escort carriers
Frigates
Merchant marine ships
Minesweepers
Patrol boats
Submarines

If you or a U.S. veteran you love has an asbestos-related illness like lung cancer or mesothelioma, we may be able to help you secure financial compensation.

Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide to see how we can help veterans with lung cancer from asbestos exposure on Navy ships.

List of U.S. Navy Ships With Asbestos

Asbestos-containing products could be found in many different naval vessels for decades due to government mandates. See how asbestos was used aboard different types of U.S. Navy ships below.

Asbestos on Aircraft Carriers

Roughly 60 U.S. Navy aircraft carriers were built with asbestos products to protect the vessels, as well as the planes aboard them, from fires.

Aircraft carriers known to have contained asbestos include:

USS America (CV-66)
USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70)
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69)
USS Enterprise (CV-6)
USS Forrestal (CV-59)
USS Independence (CVL-22)
USS Nimitz (CVN-68)
USS Valley Forge (CV-45)

Asbestos on Amphibious Warships

Over 500 amphibious warships, which transported U.S. Marine Corps service members, relied on asbestos-containing materials.

The following amphibious warships were just a few that used asbestos:

USS Arcturus
USS Arthur L. Bristol
USS Baxter
USS Carpellotti
USS Electra
USS Guam
USS Leedstown
USS New Orleans
USS Plymouth Rock
USS Trousdale
USS Williamsburg
USS Zeilin

Call (877) 446-5767 to learn if you may be eligible for compensation if you served on Navy vessels that used asbestos and now have lung cancer or mesothelioma.

Asbestos on Auxiliary Ships

Auxiliary vessels helped supply other U.S. Navy ships with supplies and resources. Anyone who served aboard these ships could have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials.

Navy auxiliary ships that used asbestos included:

USS Cornhusker State (ACS-6)
USS Delta (AR-9)
USS Flyer (AG-178)
USS Grand Canyon (AR-28)
USS Monob One (YAG-61)
USS Sequoia (AG-23
USS Utah (AG-16)
USS Wyoming (AG-17)

Asbestos on Battleships

During World War II, battleships were the core of the U.S. Navy’s fleet. These large Navy vessels were used to take down enemy ships. Our team has identified nearly 40 battleships built with asbestos-containing materials.

These battleships included:

USS Alabama
USS California
USS Delaware
USS Florida
USS Idaho
USS Kansas
USS Maryland
USS Minnesota
USS Nevada
USS New York
USS Oklahoma
USS Pennsylvania
USS South Carolina
USS Washington

Asbestos on Cruisers

Cruisers were used to protect other U.S. Navy ships from enemy attack. Over 100 Navy cruisers contained asbestos-based products.

Just a few cruisers that used asbestos included:

USS Albany
USS Baltimore
USS Columbus
USS Houston
USS Los Angeles
USS New Orleans
USS Pittsburgh
USS San Diego

Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide if you were exposed to asbestos on U.S. Navy ships and now have lung cancer. You may be eligible for financial compensation to cover your health care expenses and other bills.

Asbestos on Cutters

Cutters were the main ships used by the U.S. Coast Guard for missions. More than 70 cutters are known to have used asbestos-based materials.

Coast Guard cutters with asbestos included:

USCGC Absecon (WHEC-374)
USCGC Bering Strait (WHEC-382)
USCGC Dallas (WHEC-716)
USCGC Haida (WPG-45)
USCGC Ingham (WPG-35)
USCGC Matagorda (WHEC-371)
USCGC Owasco (WHEC-39)
USCGC Tampa (WPG-48)

Asbestos on Destroyers

Any Navy destroyer built before the 1980s used asbestos for fireproofing and insulation. This put Navy veterans serving on these vessels at risk of mesothelioma later in life.

More than 900 Navy destroyers contained asbestos, including:

USS Abel P. Upshur (DD-193)
USS Bainbridge (DD-1)
USS Cassin Young (DD-793)
USS Dyson (DD-572)
USS Earle (DD-635)
USS Kimberly (DD-521)
USS Palmer (DD-161)
USS Remey (DD-688)
USS Tattnall (DD-125)
USS Yarborough (DD-314)

Asbestos on Destroyer Escorts

Destroyer escorts helped protect supply ships from enemy vessels like submarines. More than 500 destroyer escorts were built with asbestos materials.

Some of these destroyer escorts included:

USS Amesbury (DE-66)
USS Barber (DE-161)
USS Chambers (DE-391)
USS Daniel (DE-335)
USS Edsall (DE-129)
USS French (DE-367)
USS Garcia (DE-1040)
USS Lockwood (DE-1064)
USS McAnn (DE-73)
USS Slater (DE-766)

Asbestos on Escort Carriers

Escort carriers were merchant vessels that had been converted into aircraft carriers to protect cargo ships during World War II.

Many of these escort carriers contained asbestos, such as:

USS Altamaha (CVE-6)
USS Barnes (CVE-20)
USS Carnegie (CVE-38)
USS Edisto (CVE-41)
USS Hoggatt Bay (CVE-73
USS Salerno Bay (CVE-110)
USS Takanis Bay (CVE-89)
USS Tulagi (CVE-72)

Contact us now to see if you qualify for compensation if you have lung cancer or mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos on Navy ships. You may be eligible even if your ship isn’t listed above.

Asbestos on Frigates

Frigates helped escort other ships safely to their destinations. Over 100 U.S. Navy frigates contained asbestos, putting those who served aboard them at risk of lung cancer later in life.

Some of the frigates that used asbestos included:

USS Aylwin (FF-1081)
USS Boone (FFG-28)
USS Connole (FF-1056)
USS Harold E. Holt (FF-1074)
USS Kauffman (FFG-59)
USS Reid (FFG-30)
USS Thach (FFG-43)
USS Voge (FF-1047)
USS Wadsworth (FFG-9)
USS Whipple (FF-1062)

Asbestos on Merchant Marine Ships

Merchant marine ships were private vessels contracted by the U.S. Navy to help make up its auxiliary fleet during wartime. While these ships weren’t built by the Navy, many still had asbestos-based products aboard.

Merchant marine ships with asbestos included:

SS Alcoa Cavalier
SS Burco Trader
SS Del Mar
SS Empire State
SS Gopher State
SS Keystone State
SS Pine Tree State
SS Simon Benson
SS Uruguay
SS Wilson B. Keene

Asbestos on Minesweepers

Minesweepers helped destroy mines left behind by enemy fleets. Nearly 300 minesweepers are known to have used asbestos-containing materials.

Some of these minesweepers included:

USS Ability
USS Barrier
USS Devastator
USS Indicative
USS Minivet
USS Owl
USS Phantom
USS Redwing
USS Tanager
USS Zeal

Asbestos on Patrol Boats

During World War II, patrol boats allowed the U.S. Navy to quickly hit larger ships with torpedoes. More than 500 of these ships relied on asbestos-containing materials.

Patrol boats that used asbestos included:

USS Antelope (PG-86)
USS Beacon (PG-99)
USS Canon (PG-90)
USS Douglas (PG-100)
USS Pegasus (PHM-1)
USS Surprise (PG-97)

Asbestos on Submarines

Submarines required extensive asbestos insulation and waterproofing to keep them safe underwater. Almost 400 U.S. Navy submarines contained asbestos.

Some of the submarines built with asbestos included:

USS Argonaut
USS Birmingham
USS Glenard P. Lipscomb
USS Jacksonville
USS Parche
USS New York City
USS San Francisco
USS Seawolf

Get a free case review for help accessing compensation if you or a loved one may have been exposed to asbestos on Navy ships and now have lung cancer. You may be eligible even if your ship wasn’t shown above.

Jobs at Risk of Asbestos Exposure on Navy Ships

The widespread use of asbestos on Navy ships put many service members in danger. However, some Navy Military Occupational Specialties (MOSs) were at a very high risk of exposure.

Certain Navy jobs required service members to work with or around asbestos-containing products every day, increasing the chances of exposure.

Jobs at high risk of exposure to asbestos on Navy ships included:

Boilermen and boiler technicians
Electricians
Enginemen and engine room mechanics
Deckhands and sailors
Firefighters
Gas turbine system technicians
Gunners and gunnery technicians
Hull technicians
Machinist’s mates
Pipefitters
Shipbuilders and shipyard workers like laggers
Steamfitters
Submarine engineers
Welders

Anyone working in these roles may have handled asbestos-containing materials like insulation, wires, and gaskets daily.

“I was a boiler room tender when I went aboard my first ship and started doing my first job. I asked them what the material was made out of and they told me it was asbestos. It didn’t kill anybody on the spot that’s for sure, but it took years later. That’s when it started catching up with us.”

— Walter Twidwell, U.S. Navy veteran with mesothelioma

Working with asbestos products on Navy ships could have released fibers into the air. Anyone who breathed in or swallowed these fibers is at risk of developing lung cancer or mesothelioma 10-50 years later.

Asbestos Use in Navy Shipyards

One of the highest-risk jobs for Navy asbestos exposure was shipyard work. Navy shipyard workers had to install, repair, and replace asbestos-containing parts, so they were at an incredibly high risk of exposure and lung cancer.

More than 100 shipyards across 11 states used asbestos. Roughly 4.5 million people were exposed to asbestos in shipyards during World War II alone, according to a report by The New York Times.

Call (877) 446-5767 now if you were exposed to asbestos on Navy ships or in shipyards and now have lung cancer or mesothelioma. You may be eligible for financial compensation.

Products Containing Asbestos on Navy Ships

Thousands of different products containing asbestos were used throughout U.S. Navy ships to help with fireproofing, insulation, and durability.

Notable products containing asbestos on Navy ships included:

Adhesives
Boilers
Cables
Caulking
Ceiling and floor tiles
Deck coverings
Electrical wiring and coating
Engines
Gaskets and valves
Insulation
Lagging and rope
Linings of steel walls, plates, and doors
Paint
Panels
Pipes, pipe insulation, and coverings
Pumps
Tubing
Turbines

“Asbestos was used throughout Navy ships to insulate their pipes and boiler systems.”

— Eric Hall, Major USAFR and VA-accredited attorney

Working with these products could send asbestos fibers and dust flying into the air. Breathing in or swallowing this dust can cause U.S. Navy veterans to develop mesothelioma or asbestos lung cancer later in life.

Compensation and Benefits for Veterans Harmed By Asbestos on Navy Ships

Veterans who develop lung cancer or mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos on Navy ships may qualify for benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and legal compensation.

Compensation options include:

Lawsuits: You may be able to file a lung cancer or mesothelioma lawsuit if you developed either of these cancers from asbestos on Navy ships. Some veterans have received $1 million or more through Navy asbestos settlements. The military and government aren’t sued.
Asbestos trust funds: Set up by bankrupt manufacturers of asbestos-containing products to avoid lawsuits, these funds contain $30 billion today. You may be eligible to file claims with multiple trusts to get compensation.
VA benefits: The VA awards nearly $4,000 a month as of 2024 to married veterans with mesothelioma or lung cancer in many cases. You can also get free or inexpensive health care, survivor benefits, pension plans, and more depending on your eligibility.

Lung Cancer Group partners with mesothelioma and lung cancer lawyers, some of whom are U.S. veterans themselves, to help veterans harmed by asbestos on Navy ships get the compensation they deserve.

Get a free case review now to find out which types of lung cancer compensation you qualify for.

We’re Here to Help Veterans Exposed to Asbestos on Navy Ships

Any U.S. veteran who served aboard naval ships before the early 1980s is at risk of lung cancer or mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure.

Cancer has serious physical and financial consequences. The Lung Cancer Group team is here to help you better understand these cancers and pursue compensation, so you can access the treatments you need.

If you qualify, we can help you and your family members:

Determine if asbestos on Navy ships caused your cancer
Learn about lung cancer and mesothelioma treatment options
Pursue compensation from VA benefits, lawsuits, and trust fund claims
Secure justice from manufacturers of asbestos products that caused you harm

Call (877) 446-5767 or get our Free Lung Cancer Guide now to see how we can assist you or a loved one after exposure to asbestos on Navy ships.

Asbestos on U.S. Navy Ships FAQs

When was asbestos removed from U.S. Navy ships?

Renovation efforts removed most products containing asbestos on Navy ships in the early 1980s once the general public became fully aware of the risks.

Only a small handful of U.S. Navy ships still have asbestos-containing products aboard today, so the risk of modern-day exposure is very low.

Is asbestos still used on Navy ships?

Yes, asbestos can still be found on a handful of older Navy ships. However, the asbestos materials were deemed sturdy enough that fibers wouldn’t be released, meaning they pose a very low health risk.

Still, it’s believed that thousands of U.S. veterans were exposed to asbestos on Navy ships before the risks were known.

U.S. veterans are still in danger today as it takes 10-50 years for lung cancer or mesothelioma to develop after asbestos exposure on Navy ships.

Can you sue the Navy for asbestos exposure?

Our legal partners don’t sue the U.S. Navy for asbestos exposure. Instead, they sue the manufacturers of asbestos-containing products. These companies made and sold asbestos products and hid the health risks, putting Navy personnel and civilians in danger.

You may be able to sue these manufacturers if you develop lung cancer or mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos on U.S. Navy ships. You can still file for VA benefits if you file a Navy lung cancer or mesothelioma lawsuit.

Get a free case review now to learn if you’re eligible to file a mesothelioma or lung cancer lawsuit for asbestos on Navy ships.

Can I receive VA disability for asbestos exposure on Navy ships?

Possibly. Veterans who developed lung cancer, mesothelioma, or other asbestos-related diseases from asbestos on Navy ships may qualify for VA benefits.

The VA often rates lung cancer and mesothelioma as 100% disabilities, meaning veterans can get the highest disability payouts and the lowest health care copays.

Call (877) 446-5767 to learn if our legal partners may be able to help you prepare an asbestos VA claim.