⚓ BB-35 — New York BB-34
USS Texas — Asbestos Exposure
USS Texas (BB-35) is the only surviving dreadnought-era battleship in the world. Commissioned in 1914, she is also the only ship to have served in both World War I and World War II. Texas participated in the Normandy landings on D-Day, June 6, 1944, providing shore bombardment support for Allied forces at Omaha Beach.
Service History
Texas served in both world wars — a distinction shared by no other ship. During WWI she escorted convoys and joined the British Grand Fleet. In WWII she provided gunfire support at Casablanca (Operation Torch, 1942), Normandy (D-Day, June 6, 1944), Cherbourg, and Iwo Jima and Okinawa in the Pacific. She was decommissioned in 1948 and became the first U.S. ship permanently preserved as a museum. After decades at the San Jacinto Battleground near Houston, she is undergoing extensive restoration.
Asbestos Exposure Aboard USS Texas
Texas was extensively refitted between the wars, and her interwar modernization added asbestos insulation as the standard material of the era. While older than the WWII-era battleships, her early-to-mid 20th century overhauls at navy yards (including Norfolk and Philadelphia) applied asbestos pipe lagging, insulation, and gaskets throughout the engineering plant. Veterans who served aboard Texas during her WWII active service are eligible for VA disability claims.
For a full list of asbestos locations and at-risk ratings for the New York BB-34, see the New York BB-34 class page.
VA Benefits & Legal Options
Veterans who served in engineering ratings aboard USS Texas 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 Battleships › 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
USS Texas is very old. Was asbestos used on a ship built in 1914?
Yes. While Texas was built before the widespread use of asbestos in naval construction, she underwent major refits and modernizations through the 1920s and 1930s — when asbestos became the standard insulation material in U.S. Navy shipbuilding. Her interwar modernizations added asbestos-containing insulation to her boiler rooms and machinery spaces.
Did You Serve Aboard USS Texas?
If you or a family member served aboard USS Texas, 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 ›