⚓ BB-59 — South Dakota BB-57
USS Massachusetts — Asbestos Exposure
USS Massachusetts (BB-59) — nicknamed 'Big Mamie' — holds the distinction of firing the first and last U.S. 16-inch rounds of World War II. She opened fire against the French battleship Jean Bart during Operation Torch in Morocco on November 8, 1942, and fired her last rounds at Japanese positions days before the war ended. She is preserved at Battleship Cove in Fall River, Massachusetts.
Service History
Massachusetts commissioned May 12, 1942 and was immediately deployed to the Atlantic for Operation Torch. Her first shots in combat against the Jean Bart (November 8, 1942) were the first U.S. Navy 16-inch shells fired against an enemy in WWII. After the Mediterranean she transferred to the Pacific, covering carrier operations and bombarding Japanese-held islands from Kwajalein to Okinawa. She earned 11 battle stars and was decommissioned in 1947. In 1965 she was saved from scrapping by a public fundraising campaign and preserved at Battleship Cove, where she remains the centerpiece of the complex.
Asbestos Exposure Aboard USS Massachusetts
Massachusetts was built at the Bethlehem Steel Shipbuilding yard in Quincy — a facility with documented asbestos exposure history. Her South Dakota-class engineering plant used asbestos insulation throughout her four boiler rooms and machinery spaces. The combination of high-pressure steam (600 psi) and confined engineering spaces created sustained asbestos exposure for engineering ratings across her service life.
For a full list of asbestos locations and at-risk ratings for the South Dakota BB-57, see the South Dakota BB-57 class page.
VA Benefits & Legal Options
Veterans who served in engineering ratings aboard USS Massachusetts 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
Was Massachusetts (BB-59) built at a shipyard with documented asbestos exposure?
Yes. Bethlehem Steel's Quincy, Massachusetts shipyard — where Massachusetts was built — is one of the commercial shipyards with documented asbestos exposure histories among workers. Shipfitters, insulators, and pipefitters who worked at Quincy during the WWII shipbuilding surge applied asbestos insulation to Massachusetts and her sister ships.
Did You Serve Aboard USS Massachusetts?
If you or a family member served aboard USS Massachusetts, 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 ›