⚓ U.S. Navy — Asbestos Era
Navy Destroyers & Asbestos Exposure
Destroyers are the workhorses of the fleet, and they carried asbestos throughout their engineering plants. The Fletcher class alone numbered 175 ships — the most of any U.S. destroyer class — all built during World War II with high-temperature pipe insulation, boiler lagging, and asbestos-packed gaskets. Veterans of destroyer duty who worked in engineering spaces have elevated rates of mesothelioma and asbestosis.
Where Was Asbestos Found Aboard Destroyers?
- Boiler rooms — pipe lagging, boiler block insulation
- Engine rooms — turbine casing covers, pump gaskets, valve packing
- Machinery spaces — asbestos rope, cloth, and tape used for sealing
- Fire rooms — refractory brick and expansion joint packing
- Below-decks berthing near engineering spaces
Fletcher-class destroyers (DD-445 and after, commissioned 1942–1944) are the emblematic example. The Gearing class that followed, and the postwar Forrest Sherman and Charles F. Adams classes, continued to use asbestos through the 1970s.
Ratings Most at Risk
Veterans who served in the following ratings aboard destroyers had regular access to areas where asbestos was present and were more likely to disturb asbestos-containing materials during normal duties.
If you served in one of these ratings, document it as part of any VA disability or asbestos trust fund claim. Your rating and the ship\'s construction era are two of the most important factors in establishing exposure.
Destroyers Classes
The table below lists all destroyers classes in our database. Each class page includes the full roster of ships in that class. Class pages are being built out as part of Phase 2 — if a class page is not yet live, check back or use the Find Your Ship tool to locate your vessel.
VA Benefits & Compensation for Destroyers Veterans
Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural plaques, or asbestos-related lung cancer who served aboard asbestos-era Navy destroyers have two separate paths to compensation. These paths are not mutually exclusive — many veterans pursue both.
VA Disability Claims
The VA recognizes shipboard duty as a source of asbestos exposure. To file a disability claim, you will need:
- A current diagnosis of an asbestos-related disease from a physician
- Evidence of your service aboard an asbestos-era vessel (your DD-214, service records, or a buddy statement)
- A nexus opinion linking your diagnosis to your in-service exposure
Contact your regional VA office or a Veterans Service Organization (VSO) such as the DAV, VFW, or American Legion for no-cost assistance with claims.
Asbestos Trust Fund Claims
Separate from VA benefits, asbestos bankruptcy trust funds pay claims to veterans who can identify the manufacturers of the asbestos products they were exposed to. Over $30 billion has been set aside in these trusts. Identifying the ship, the class, and the specific products used aboard (such as Kaylo pipe insulation or Unibestos block insulation) is critical to a successful trust fund claim.
Note: Trust fund payment percentages change over time. Figures cited by attorneys should be verified against current fund schedules before filing.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Were all U.S. Navy destroyers built with asbestos?
All destroyers built before approximately 1975–1980 were constructed using asbestos-containing materials in their engineering plants. Asbestos was the standard fire-resistant insulation material for high-temperature steam piping, boiler systems, and machinery spaces throughout this era. Ships built after 1980 were increasingly built without asbestos, though some legacy asbestos may remain in systems installed earlier.
How do I find out which ship I served on and whether it had asbestos?
Use our Find Your Ship tool to search by ship name or hull number. Every ship in our database is from the asbestos era. Your service records (DD-214) list the ships you served aboard. For class-level asbestos-location information, see the class page once it is published, or contact a mesothelioma attorney who specializes in Navy claims — they maintain detailed product-identification databases.
What is the latency period for asbestos-related diseases in Navy veterans?
Asbestos-related diseases typically appear 20–50 years after initial exposure. A veteran who served aboard a destroyer in the 1960s may not receive a mesothelioma diagnosis until the 2000s or 2010s. This long latency period means many veterans are being diagnosed now who served decades ago. If you were diagnosed, the statute of limitations on legal claims typically runs from the date of diagnosis, not the date of exposure — but rules vary by state, so consult an attorney promptly.
Asbestos-Related Diseases
Pleural mesothelioma
Most common mesothelioma (~75% of cases); strongly asbestos-linked
Peritoneal mesothelioma
~2nd most common; linked to ingested fibers
Pericardial mesothelioma
Rare (~1% of cases)
Testicular mesothelioma
Very rare
Asbestos-related lung cancer
Risk multiplies sharply with smoking + asbestos
Asbestosis
Progressive scarring; causes shortness of breath; not reversible
Pleural plaques
Most common sign of exposure; marker, usually asymptomatic
Diffuse pleural thickening
Can restrict lung expansion and breathing
Pleural effusion
May be an early benign manifestation
Rounded atelectasis
Can mimic tumor on imaging; benign
Laryngeal cancer
IARC-recognized association with asbestos
Ovarian cancer
Associated with asbestos (incl. talc) exposure
COPD / chronic airway disease
Asbestos can contribute alongside other causes