⚓ CV-11 — Essex CV-9
USS Intrepid — Asbestos Exposure
USS Intrepid (CV-11) survived five kamikaze strikes and two torpedo hits during World War II — earning the nickname 'The Fighting I' — and later served as a NASA recovery ship for Mercury and Gemini astronauts. Today she is the centerpiece of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum on Manhattan's West Side.
Service History
Intrepid was commissioned August 16, 1943 and deployed to the Pacific. She survived multiple Japanese air attacks, including kamikaze strikes that killed hundreds of crew members. Despite repeated damage she remained in action throughout the Pacific campaign. After WWII she was modernized and served as an anti-submarine carrier. She recovered the Mercury capsule Faith 7 (Gordon Cooper, 1963) and the Gemini III spacecraft (Grissom and Young, 1965). Decommissioned in 1974, she was saved from scrapping by Zachary Fisher and opened as a museum in New York in 1982. The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum includes a Concorde aircraft, the space shuttle Enterprise, and an Albacore-class submarine on her flight deck and pier.
Asbestos Exposure Aboard USS Intrepid
Intrepid was built at Newport News Shipbuilding — one of the most-litigated shipyards in asbestos litigation — using asbestos insulation throughout her engineering spaces. Essex-class carriers had four boiler rooms feeding the propulsion turbines, all heavily insulated with asbestos pipe lagging and block insulation. With over 3,400 crew members during wartime, a large proportion of engineering ratings were exposed. Multiple kamikaze hits and torpedo damage also disturbed asbestos insulation during repair operations.
For a full list of asbestos locations and at-risk ratings for the Essex CV-9, see the Essex CV-9 class page.
VA Benefits & Legal Options
Veterans who served in engineering ratings aboard USS Intrepid and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural plaques, or asbestos-related lung cancer may be eligible for:
- VA disability compensation — Monthly benefit. Requires a diagnosis, evidence of shipboard service, and a nexus between the two. No specific product identification required.
- Asbestos trust fund claims — Lump-sum payments from manufacturers' bankruptcy trusts. Requires identifying specific products used aboard. Multiple trusts may apply.
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
Can veterans who served on USS Intrepid as a CVS (anti-submarine carrier) still claim asbestos exposure?
Yes. The conversion of Essex-class carriers to anti-submarine configurations (CVS designation) did not remove the original asbestos insulation from engineering spaces. Veterans who served aboard Intrepid in any capacity during her active service years, particularly in engineering ratings, are eligible for VA disability claims for asbestos-related disease.
Did You Serve Aboard USS Intrepid?
If you or a family member served aboard USS Intrepid, 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.
What we do with your information: Your submission goes into a private moderation queue. We will never publish your name, contact details, or diagnosis information publicly. The only information that may appear publicly is an anonymized count of verified veterans who have reported serving on this ship. We will not sell, rent, or share your information with third parties except as necessary to respond to your specific request. You may request deletion of your information at any time.
To request that your information be removed: Data Removal Request ›