Did the Navy Use Asbestos on Destroyer Escorts?
Yes, asbestos was used on destroyer escorts and thousands of other U.S. Navy ships for decades.
Key Facts About Asbestos on Destroyer Escorts
- Purpose: The Navy believed asbestos was safe to use as a fireproofing agent, insulator, and anti-corrosion material.
- Products: Boilers, gaskets, pumps, valves, engines, pipes, and electrical wiring were just a few of many asbestos-containing products used on these ships.
- Time span: All destroyer escorts built between the 1930s and early 1980s contained asbestos.
Companies that made and sold asbestos products to the Navy knew the risks but hid them to keep making money. Millions of veterans were exposed before the risks were known. And every year, many U.S. veterans are diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma Hope can help you pursue military benefits, financial compensation, and health care services if you were exposed to asbestos on destroyer escorts and now have mesothelioma.
Download our Free Veterans Compensation Guide to learn more.
List of Destroyer Escorts That Used Asbestos
More than 500 Navy destroyer escorts were constructed with asbestos before the risks were well-known.
Some of the destroyers that used asbestos include:
- USS Alger (DE 101)
- USS Amesbury (DE 66)
- USS Austin (DE 15)
- USS Badger (DE 1071)
- USS Barber (DE 161)
- USS Baron (DE 166)
- USS Bowen (DE 1079)
- USS Carpellotti (DE 720)
- USS Chambers (DE 391)
- USS Cockrill (DE 398)
- USS Crouter (DE 11)
- USS Daniel (DE 335)
- USS DeLong (DE 684)
- USS Dionne (DE 261)
- USS Donnell (DE 56)
- USS Edsall (DE 129)
- USS Eisele (DE 34)
- USS Evarts (DE 5)
- USS Finch (DE 328)
- USS French (DE 367)
- USS Garcia (DE 1040)
- USS Gustafson (DE 182)
- USS Jobb (DE 707)
- USS Lansing (DE 388)
- USS Lockwood (DE 1064)
- USS Marsh (DE 699)
- USS McAnn (DE 73)
- USS McGinty (DE 365)
- USS Moore (DE 240)
- USS Oswald (DE 71)
- USS Slater (DE 766)
Don’t see your ship listed? Use our search tool to find the ship(s) you served on.
- Type of Ship:
- Asbestos Used: Yes
Learn more about asbestos on Navy ships in our Free Veterans Guide.
Get Your Free Guide or call (866) 608-8933Where Was Asbestos Used in Destroyer Escorts?
Asbestos products could be found in many locations throughout destroyer escorts because they helped keep the ships soundproof, well-insulated, and fireproof.
Asbestos-containing products used on destroyer escorts included:
- Boilers
- Deck covering material
- Engines
- Gaskets
- Pipe insulation
- Pumps
- Turbines
- Valves
- Wiring
As these products wore down or were disturbed, they could release tiny asbestos fibers into the air.
Any Navy service members nearby could breathe in or swallow these fibers and develop asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis 10-50 years later.
Who Was Exposed to Asbestos on Destroyer Escorts?
All U.S. Navy veterans who served aboard destroyer escorts before the early 1980s were in danger of exposure. This is because every Navy destroyer escort used asbestos before this time.
Those at the highest risk worked with asbestos on destroyer escorts every day as part of their jobs.
Veterans who served in these roles had a high risk of asbestos exposure:
- Boiler tenders
- Electricians
- Engine room workers
- Hull maintenance workers
- Insulators
- Mechanics
- Pipefitters
- Shipyard workers
- Steamfitters
- Welders
Those serving in the jobs above breathed in or swallowed asbestos fibers without knowing they were putting themselves at risk of mesothelioma later in life.
Compensation for Exposure to Asbestos on Destroyer Escorts
If you served on a Navy destroyer escort and now have mesothelioma, you could qualify for benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and other forms of financial compensation.
Top financial options include:
- VA benefits: U.S. veterans with mesothelioma typically qualify for 100% disability payouts (worth $4,044.91 a month in 2025) and low-cost or free treatments through the VA health care system. Mesothelioma Hope can help you file a VA claim or increase your VA rating after a diagnosis.
- Mesothelioma lawsuits: The average mesothelioma lawsuit awards $1 million or more, which can be life-changing for you and your family. Our team can file a lawsuit on your behalf, with no legal action taken against any branch of the U.S. military or government and without affecting your VA benefits.
- Asbestos trust fund claims: Trusts were set up by bankrupt asbestos companies to pay victims. There’s over $30 billion already set aside in asbestos trust funds, and we can help you access some of this compensation if you’re eligible.
Learn about all the financial compensation options available to you with our Free Veterans Compensation Guide.
Settlement Amounts for Veterans Exposed to Asbestos on Destroyer Escorts
Notable mesothelioma settlements secured by our partner law firm include:
- $3.78 million for a Pennsylvania Navy veteran with mesothelioma who did mechanical work on the U USS Lloyd S. Carlson and USS David Stone
- $2.29 million for a machinist mate who served on the USS Lake Champlain and was later diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma
- $2 million for a North Carolina boiler room technician with mesothelioma linked to service in the U.S. Naval Training Center as well as on the USS Bryce Canyon and USS Stein
- $1.93 million for a Pennsylvania Navy gunner who served on the USS James Marshall, USS Lou Gehrig, and USS Daniel H. Hill and later developed pleural mesothelioma
- $1.92 million for a fireman in the U.S. Navy with pleural mesothelioma from working aboard the USS George W. Ingram
While each case is different, and there are no guarantees, our legal partners may be able to secure significant payouts for you or a loved one too.
Help for Navy Veterans Exposed to Asbestos on Destroyer Escorts
U.S. Navy veterans served aboard destroyer escorts and other vessels with pride, putting their lives on the line to protect our country. None of them should have been put at risk of deadly illnesses like mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma Hope is here to help Navy veterans who were harmed by asbestos on destroyer escorts.
Our team of VA-accredited agents, Patient Advocates, and nurses can connect you or a loved one with top military, medical, and financial resources right now so you can find peace of mind after a diagnosis.
Download our Veterans Compensation Guide for free or call (866) 608-8933 to connect with us now. There are no out-of-pocket costs to work with our team.
Asbestos on Destroyer Escorts FAQs
Which Navy ships had asbestos?
Before the dangers of asbestos became known in the 1980s, almost every U.S. Navy ship contained asbestos products. This included over 500 destroyer escorts.
Thousands of other Navy vessels were built with asbestos too before the risks were well-known.
What was asbestos used for on ships?
The Navy required the use of asbestos on destroyer escorts and other Navy ships because it was highly effective at fireproofing, insulating, and soundproofing.
Is asbestos still used on ships?
No Navy destroyer escorts use asbestos today, according to a review of the Naval Vessel Register.
New Navy shipbuilding projects stopped using asbestos in the early 1980s, and steps were taken to remove asbestos from any active vessels.
Asbestos use is now highly regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
However, a handful of other older U.S. Navy ships may still have lingering asbestos-containing products aboard since it wasn’t possible to remove it all.
How serious is one-time asbestos exposure?
Even a single exposure to asbestos could lead to cancers like mesothelioma later in life. However, your risk increases with regular exposure.
If you were exposed to asbestos on destroyers, see a doctor if you start to feel unwell. Doctors can determine if any symptoms stem from mesothelioma and recommend treatment options.
You can also reach out to Mesothelioma Hope to get help finding top doctors, VA benefits, and financial compensation. Call (866) 608-8933 to get started.
Can you sue the Navy for asbestos exposure?
You can’t sue the U.S. Navy or any other branch of the military or government for asbestos exposure.
However, you may qualify to sue private manufacturers of asbestos-containing products.
These companies sold asbestos for use aboard U.S. Navy destroyer escorts and other vessels without disclosing the health dangers.
Filing a lawsuit could win you $1 million or more, and you’ll still be able to file for VA benefits.
When did they stop using asbestos on ships?
The U.S. Navy stopped using asbestos on new destroyer escorts and other vessels in the early 1980s.
Renovation efforts removed asbestos-containing materials from most Navy vessels.
However, Navy veterans exposed to asbestos on destroyer escorts are still in danger since mesothelioma can form 10-50 years later.
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