How Was Asbestos Used on Battleships?
Asbestos was used throughout U.S. Navy battleships to help keep them fireproof and well-insulated.
Thousands of Navy veterans served on 36 U.S. battleships known to have used asbestos. Exposure to this toxic substance can lead to mesothelioma later in life.
Many American battleships were named after states, including the USS Iowa (BB-61), the USS New Jersey (BB-62), and the USS Missouri (BB-63). All of these ships were built with asbestos.
Battleships were decommissioned in the early 1990s, with the last two being stricken from the Navy’s registry in 2014.
However, thousands of Navy veterans who served on battleships decades ago are still at risk of mesothelioma today given the cancer’s long latency period.
Get our Free Veterans Compensation Guide to see how we can assist you if you developed mesothelioma from asbestos on battleships.
Asbestos Use in Navy Battleships
Every U.S. Navy battleship built from the early 1900s was loaded with asbestos. Back then, naval architects and shipbuilders saw asbestos as the ideal product to insulate and fireproof battleships.
Asbestos was non-corrosive, making it ideal for saltwater environments. It was also non-conductive, lightweight, chemically inert, and cheap.
U.S. Navy records report that the USS Iowa contained almost 500 tons of insulation, which contained up to 90% asbestos.
The highest-risk places for asbestos exposure were:
- Engine and boiler rooms
- Propulsion rooms
- Magazines and munition stores
- Galleys and sleeping quarters
- Fire and pump rooms
- Gun and cannon turrets
Asbestos was everywhere inside battleships and on some outer surfaces, too. Sailors couldn’t escape asbestos exposure on a battleship, regardless of where they were posted.
Types of Asbestos Products Used in Battleships
Because asbestos seemed the perfect insulator and fire protector, battleships coated every pipe, duct, and cable with asbestos.
Asbestos-containing products could be found in almost every part of a battleship, including floor, wall, and ceiling surfaces.
These are some asbestos-containing products used on U.S. Navy battleships:
- Spray-on, block, loose-fill, and pipe-wrap insulation
- Soundproofing
- Firewall and heat control products
- Boiler liners and blankets
- Gaskets, valves, and packing
- Paint, sealant, caulking, and adhesive
- Electric wire coating
- Floor and ceiling tiles
- Cement and mortar powder
- Ropes and cables
- Fireproof protective clothing
- Welding rods
- Fireproof paper and underlayment
Anyone who worked with or handled these products was at risk of asbestos exposure.
Get our Free Veterans Compensation Guide if you worked with or around these products on a U.S. Navy battleship and later developed mesothelioma.
High-Risk Asbestos Occupations on Battleships
Many sailors who worked on battleships before the 1980s were exposed to airborne asbestos fibers. Old and dry asbestos materials easily become friable and turn to dust.
Some of the highest-risk battleship occupations were:
- Firefighters
- Temperature control personnel
- Welders
- Metal fabricators
- Boilermakers
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- Steamfitters
- Insulators
- Painters
- Wallboard installers
- Engine technicians
- Weapons specialists
- Hull maintenance workers
- Mechanics
- Millwrights
Battleships were poorly ventilated. Clouds of asbestos fibers filled the air, where sailors and shipyard workers breathed them in or swallowed them.
Help for Navy Veterans Harmed by Asbestos on Battleships
U.S. Navy veterans who served onboard or around battleships have a high risk of developing diseases like mesothelioma.
This cancer has a lengthy latency period of 10 to 50 years from the time of exposure to when disease symptoms present.
Thankfully, veterans can receive financial compensation and other benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Call (866) 608-8933 or get our Free Veterans Compensation Guide to see how we can assist you.
Asbestos on Battleships FAQs
When did they stop using asbestos on Navy ships?
The U.S. military stopped using asbestos-containing materials on battleships and other vessels in the 1980s.
Major renovation products also removed the vast majority of these asbestos products from Navy ships.
That said, there was no way to lower the risks of mesothelioma among Navy veterans who were already exposed to asbestos on battleships.
Do ships still use asbestos?
Only a very small handful of Navy ships still use asbestos-containing materials, none of which are battleships.
That said, Navy veterans who served on battleships could still be at risk of mesothelioma today. This is because it takes 10 to 50 years for mesothelioma to form after asbestos exposure.
Contact us now if you’re a Navy veteran suffering from mesothelioma. We can help you pursue VA benefits, top treatments, and compensation.
What was asbestos used for in the Navy?
The Navy used asbestos to help keep battleships and other vessels fireproof, insulated, and durable.
Navy service members did not know that asbestos could lead to life-threatening health problems like mesothelioma since manufacturers hid the health risks.
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