⚓ BB-39 — Pennsylvania BB-38
USS Arizona — Asbestos Exposure
USS Arizona (BB-39) was sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The explosion of her forward ammunition magazines killed 1,177 officers and enlisted men — nearly half of all Americans killed at Pearl Harbor that day. Arizona has never been raised. Her hull remains on the harbor bottom, designated a National Historic Landmark, and the USS Arizona Memorial spans her midship section.
Service History
Arizona was commissioned October 17, 1916 and served in both the Atlantic and Pacific through the interwar years. She underwent significant modernization in 1929–1931, including upgrades to her propulsion and fire control systems. On the morning of December 7, 1941, Arizona was moored at Pearl Harbor's Battleship Row when Japanese aircraft attacked. An armor-piercing bomb penetrated her forward deck and detonated her forward powder magazine, causing a catastrophic explosion that sank her in nine minutes. Of her crew of 1,512, 1,177 were killed — 23 sets of brothers among them. Arizona's remains are designated a National Historic Landmark; approximately 900 crew members are entombed within the hull.
Asbestos Exposure Aboard USS Arizona
Arizona's 1929–1931 modernization was performed at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard and Puget Sound Naval Shipyard during the era when asbestos was becoming the standard insulation material in U.S. naval construction. Asbestos-containing pipe lagging, insulation blankets, and gaskets were installed in her engineering spaces during this refit. Veterans who served aboard Arizona during the 1930s before her loss at Pearl Harbor — particularly engineering ratings — were exposed to asbestos in her machinery spaces.
For a full list of asbestos locations and at-risk ratings for the Pennsylvania BB-38, see the Pennsylvania BB-38 class page.
VA Benefits & Legal Options
Veterans who served in engineering ratings aboard USS Arizona 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
Can family members of sailors killed on USS Arizona file asbestos claims?
Asbestos-related diseases typically appear 20–50 years after exposure. Sailors killed at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, would not have had time to develop asbestos-related disease. The asbestos exposure question is relevant for survivors of the attack who served in Arizona's engineering spaces before the attack and later developed asbestos-related disease.
Is the USS Arizona Memorial open to visitors?
Yes. The USS Arizona Memorial is operated by the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation. Access to the memorial structure (which spans the sunken hull) is by boat from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center on Ford Island. The memorial is one of the most visited historic sites in the United States.
Did You Serve Aboard USS Arizona?
If you or a family member served aboard USS Arizona, 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 ›