Did Casablanca CVE-55 ships contain asbestos?

Yes. Casablanca CVE-55 vessels were built during the asbestos era and used asbestos-containing insulation throughout their engineering spaces — including pipe lagging, boiler block insulation, gaskets, and valve packing. Veterans who served in engineering spaces aboard these ships may have been exposed to asbestos fibers.

Which ratings were most at risk aboard Casablanca CVE-55 ships?

Machinist's Mate (MM), Boiler Technician (BT), Engineman (EN), Hull Technician (HT), Pipefitter (PF), Damage Controlman (DC) had the most direct contact with asbestos-containing materials aboard Casablanca CVE-55 vessels.

⚓ U.S. Navy — Aircraft Carriers

Casablanca CVE-55

Q: How many ships were in the Casablanca CVE-55?

The Casablanca CVE-55 consisted of 50 vessels.

The Casablanca CVE-55 consisted of 50 vessels. Like all U.S. Navy aircraft carriers built during the asbestos era, these ships used asbestos-containing insulation throughout their engineering plants. Veterans who served in engineering spaces aboard Casablanca CVE-55 ships may have been exposed to asbestos fibers.

Asbestos Exposure Aboard Casablanca CVE-55 Ships

Asbestos was the standard thermal insulation material in U.S. Navy aircraft carriers built before approximately 1980. Common sources of asbestos exposure aboard Casablanca CVE-55 vessels included:

Pipe lagging and block insulation in boiler rooms and engine rooms
Gaskets at pipe flanges throughout the engineering plant
Valve stem packing and pump seals
Turbine casing insulation and expansion joint material
Asbestos rope, cloth, and tape used for sealing and repair work

For detailed information on spaces and products specific to aircraft carriers, see the Aircraft Carriers asbestos overview ›

At-Risk Ratings Aboard Casablanca CVE-55 Ships

The following ratings had regular contact with asbestos-containing materials aboard aircraft carriers of this era. If you served in one of these ratings, document it when filing a VA disability or asbestos trust fund claim.

Machinist's Mate (MM)
Boiler Technician (BT)
Engineman (EN)
Hull Technician (HT)
Pipefitter (PF)
Damage Controlman (DC)

Ships in the Casablanca CVE-55 (50 vessels)

Ship Name	Hull No.	Notes
USS Casablanca	CVE-55	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Liscome Bay	CVE-56	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Anzio	CVE-57	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Corregidor	CVE-58	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Mission Bay	CVE-59	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Guadalcanal	CVE-60	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Manila Bay	CVE-61	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Natoma Bay	CVE-62	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS St. Lo	CVE-63	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Tripoli	CVE-64	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Wake Island	CVE-65	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS White Plains	CVE-66	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Solomons	CVE-67	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Kalinin Bay	CVE-68	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Kasaan Bay	CVE-69	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Fanshaw Bay	CVE-70	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Kitkun Bay	CVE-71	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Tulagi	CVE-72	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Gambier Bay	CVE-73	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Nehenta Bay	CVE-74	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Hoggatt Bay	CVE-75	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Kadashan Bay	CVE-76	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Marcus Island	CVE-77	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Savo Island	CVE-78	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Ommaney Bay	CVE-79	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Petrof Bay	CVE-80	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Rudyerd Bay	CVE-81	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Saginaw Bay	CVE-82	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Sargent Bay	CVE-83	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Shamrock Bay	CVE-84	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Shipley Bay	CVE-85	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Sitkoh Bay	CVE-86	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Steamer Bay	CVE-87	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Cape Esperance	CVE-88	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Takanis Bay	CVE-89	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Thetis Bay	CVE-90	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Makassar Strait	CVE-91	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Windham Bay	CVE-92	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Makin Island	CVE-93	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Lunga Point	CVE-94	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Bismarck Sea	CVE-95	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Salamaua	CVE-96	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Hollandia	CVE-97	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Kwajalein	CVE-98	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Admiralty Islands	CVE-99	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Bougainville	CVE-100	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Matanikau	CVE-101	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Attu	CVE-102	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Roi	CVE-103	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action
USS Munda	CVE-104	50-ship class; all WWII; several sunk in action

VA Benefits & Legal Options for Casablanca CVE-55 Veterans

Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural plaques, or asbestos-related lung cancer who served aboard Casablanca CVE-55 ships may be eligible for:

VA disability compensation — monthly benefit; requires diagnosis plus evidence of shipboard service. No manufacturer identification needed.
Asbestos trust fund claims — lump-sum payments from trusts funded by bankrupt asbestos manufacturers (Johns-Manville, Owens Corning, and others). Requires identifying specific products used aboard.

These two paths are not mutually exclusive. Many veterans pursue both.

Full claim guidance for Aircraft Carriers › Free Legal Review ›

Asbestos.cam is an informational resource, not a law firm. The above is general information, not legal advice. Consult a qualified attorney for guidance on your specific situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Casablanca CVE-55 ships use asbestos?

Yes. The Casablanca CVE-55 was built during the era when asbestos was the standard insulation material in U.S. naval construction. Engineering spaces aboard these vessels contained asbestos pipe lagging, boiler block insulation, gaskets, and valve packing. Veterans who worked in boiler rooms, engine rooms, or repair roles had the highest likelihood of exposure.

How do I prove I served aboard a Casablanca CVE-55 ship for a VA claim?

Your DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) lists your ship assignments. Additional documentation includes ship deck logs (available from the National Archives), official orders, and buddy statements from fellow crew members. A Veterans Service Organization (VSO) can help you gather and submit this evidence at no cost.

What asbestos products were used aboard Casablanca CVE-55 ships?

Common asbestos products used in U.S. Navy aircraft carriers of this era included Kaylo pipe insulation (Owens-Illinois), Unibestos block insulation (Pittsburgh Corning), 85% magnesia pipe covering (various manufacturers), Flexitallic spiral-wound gaskets, and Johns-Manville pipe covering. A mesothelioma attorney who specializes in Navy claims maintains detailed product-identification databases for specific ship classes.

Sources & References

NavyShips.org / navysite.de — ship roster, class, and hull-number data
NavSource Naval History — ship histories and photographs
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — Asbestos Exposure & VA Disability
ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) — Asbestos ToxFAQs
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — Asbestos
NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluations of shipyard asbestos exposure (various years)
National Archives and Records Administration — ship service records

Ship roster data compiled from NavyShips.org and NavSource Naval History. Asbestos-location information reflects class-level construction standards documented by the EPA, ATSDR, and VA. Ship-specific claims should be verified against primary sources before use in legal proceedings.

Did You Serve Aboard Casablanca CVE-55?

If you or a family member served aboard Casablanca CVE-55, you may have been exposed to asbestos. Sharing your service information is completely voluntary and may help build the historical record of shipboard exposure — information that can be valuable in VA disability and asbestos trust fund claims.

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