Asbestos and Navy Destroyer Escorts
During World War II, the U.S. Navy constructed numerous small, light ships to escort convoys carrying war materials and other supplies to battlefields around the world. Destroyer escorts defended these vital convoys against attack from enemy aircraft, submarines and smaller vessels. They also protected destroyers, battleships and aircraft carriers that implemented such missions as shore bombardments and minesweeping operations.
Destroyer escorts functioned in much the same way as their larger counterparts – destroyers – but were smaller, much faster and less expensive to produce. In all, the U.S. Navy produced more than 450 destroyer escorts in eight classes during and after World War II. Those ships still on active duty in 1975 were reclassified as frigates to avoid confusion over naming conventions.
Despite their value in the Navy fleet, destroyer escorts were among the vessels that were loaded with asbestos and asbestos parts, allowing the ships to contaminate those who served on them.
To understand better how Navy ships exposed veterans to asbestos, putting them at risk for developing mesothelioma later in life, fill out this form to get a free informational packet from the Mesothelioma Center.
Asbestos in Destroyer Escorts
For the military during the mid-20th century, asbestos was prized for its ability to withstand the extreme heat found in a destroyer escort's boilers, engines and steam pipes. Among the thousands of parts used in building a destroyer escort vessel, nearly 300 of those parts contained asbestos-laced materials.
With so many ships in production and at such a rapid rate, the Navy required the employment of thousands of workers in shipyards around the country to build destroyer escorts. Almost all of these vessels used insulation that contained asbestos in numerous components.
As a result of the widespread use of asbestos in the construction of destroyer escorts, thousands of workers developed mesothelioma cancer. Medical and scientific studies concluded that the increased incidence of mesothelioma occurred as a direct result of asbestos exposure. Another study has shown that one in three U.S. patients under treatment for mesothelioma either served on a Navy vessel or worked on the construction of vessels, such as destroyer escorts, in the nation's shipyards.
Asbestos and Naval Shipyards
From the early 1930s until the Navy banned the use of asbestos in 1973, thousands of workers who took part in building destroyer escorts were exposed to deadly asbestos fibers. During those years, components ranging from pipe gaskets to boiler insulation carried some form of asbestos.
Workers who transported, handled, installed or cut these parts, in all likelihood, inhaled the airborne fibers.
- Boston Navy Yard, Boston, Massachusetts
- Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Inc., Hingham, Massachusettsli>
- Dravo Corporation, Wilmington, Delaware
- Consolidated Steel Corporation, Orange, Texas
- Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Bath Iron Works Corp., Bath, Maine
- Avondale Marine Ways, Avondale, Louisiana
- Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company, Seattle, Washington
Asbestos and Destroyer Escort Sailors
A destroyer escort typically carried up to 15 officers and nearly 200 enlisted sailors. Many of those sailors worked in and around the engines that kept the vessels moving at speed. As a result, these brave men were exposed to asbestos fibers during the discharge of their duties.
Decades later, thousands of these veterans developed mesothelioma and asbestosis, an irritation of the lung tissues tied to asbestos exposure. Many of these men and their families are pursuing compensation for their medical expenses through the legal system.
Help for Veterans
If you were exposed to asbestos on a destroyer escort and are a veteran, see our veterans claims page to learn about potential financial assistance for you and your family.
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© 2012 The Mesothelioma Center |
Last Modified Wednesday, February 15th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Sponsored by a law firm concentrating in asbestos litigation, The Peterson Firm, LLP with offices at 1350 Connecticut Ave, NW, Fifth Floor, Washington DC 20036.
