Asbestos on Navy Ships

If you served aboard any Navy ship before the early 1980s, you may have been exposed to a cancer-causing material called asbestos. This can cause lung cancer or mesothelioma later in life. View our list of U.S. Navy ships with asbestos and get medical and financial help if you have fallen ill.

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Written and Fact-Checked by: Lung Cancer Group

Last updated: August 12, 2025

Top Topics:

List of Ships With Asbestos
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Do U.S. Navy Ships Have Asbestos?

Yes, any U.S. Navy ship built between the 1930s and early 1980s had asbestos aboard. Asbestos materials were lightweight, inexpensive, and helped to fireproof and insulate Navy ships.

However, U.S. Navy veterans exposed to asbestos on ships could develop lung cancer or other diseases 10-50 years later.

Over 3,300 vessels used asbestos-containing materials like gaskets, insulation, boilers, and more. Navy service members didn’t understand the risks of exposure since manufacturers hid the dangerous truth.

These types of U.S. Navy ships contained asbestos:

Aircraft carriers
Amphibious warships
Auxiliary ships
Battleships
Cruisers
Cutters
Destroyers
Destroyer escorts
Escort carriers
Frigates
Merchant marine ships
Minesweepers
Patrol boats
Submarines

If you or a U.S. veteran you love has an asbestos-related illness like lung cancer or mesothelioma and served on Navy ships decades ago, assistance is available. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers many benefits to affected veterans. Our team can also help you access medical care and explore compensation options.

Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide to see how we can help veterans with lung cancer from asbestos on Navy ships.

List of U.S. Navy Ships With Asbestos

Asbestos-containing products could be found on over 3,300 naval vessels built between the 1930s and early 1980s. View our complete Navy asbestos ship list below.

Asbestos on Aircraft Carriers

Approximately 60 U.S. Navy aircraft carriers were built with asbestos products to protect the vessels as well as the planes they carried. However, service members exposed to asbestos aboard these ships now run the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Aircraft carriers known to have contained asbestos include:

USS America (CV-66)
USS Antietam (CV-36)
USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24)
USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70)
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69)
USS Enterprise (CV-6)
USS Forrestal (CV-59)
USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB-42)
USS Independence (CVL-22)
USS Intrepid (CV-11)
USS Kearsarge (CV-33)
USS Langley (CVL-27)
USS Midway (CVB-41)
USS Nimitz (CVN-68)
USS Philippine Sea (CV-47)
USS Princeton (CV-37)
USS Ranger (CV-4)
USS Reprisal (CV-35)
USS San Jacinto (CVL-30)
USS Valley Forge (CV-45)

Asbestos on Amphibious Warships

Amphibious warships transported members of the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy to different destinations. Over 500 of these vessels relied on asbestos-containing materials.

These amphibious warships were just a few that used asbestos:

USS Arcturus
USS Arthur L. Bristol
USS Baxter
USS Block Island
USS Carpellotti
USS David Stone
USS Dent
USS El Paso
USS Electra
USS Estes
USS Gallatin
USS Guam
USS Lacerta
USS Leedstown
USS Lloyd S. Carlson
USS Navarro
USS New Orleans
USS Plymouth Rock
USS Pondera
USS Trousdale
USS Williamsburg
USS Zeilin

Call (877) 446-5767 to learn if you qualify for compensation if you have lung cancer or mesothelioma and served on Navy ships that used asbestos-containing materials.

Asbestos on Auxiliary Ships

Auxiliary vessels helped supply other Navy ships with resources. Anyone who served aboard these ships could have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials like wires, gaskets, insulation, and piping.

Just a few Navy auxiliary ships that used asbestos included:

USS Ajax (AR-6)
USS Alacrity (AG-520)
USS Amphion (AR-13)
USS Assurance (AG-521)
USS Briareus (AR-12)
USS Cheyenne (AG-174)
USS Cornhusker State (ACS-6)
USS Delta (AR-9)
USS Flint (AE-32)
USS Flyer (AG-178)
USS Fomalhaut (AE-20)
USS Gem State (ACS-2)
USS Gopher State (ACS-4)
USS Grand Canyon (AR-28)
USS Markab (AR-23)
USS Monob One (YAG-61)
USS Saluda (YAG-87)
USS Sequoia (AG-23
USS Utah (AG-16)
USS Wyoming (AG-17)

Asbestos on Battleships

Battleships were the core of the U.S. Navy’s fleet during World War II. These large Navy vessels took down enemy ships. Our team has identified nearly 40 battleships built with asbestos-containing materials.

Navy battleships with asbestos included:

USS Alabama (BB-60)
USS Arizona (BB-39)
USS Arkansas (BB-33)
USS California (BB-44)
USS Colorado (BB-45)
USS Indiana (BB-58)
USS Iowa (BB-61)
USS Maryland (BB-46)
USS Massachusetts (BB-59)
USS Missouri (BB-63)
USS Nevada (BB-36)
USS New Hampshire (BB-70)
USS New Jersey (BB-62)
USS North Carolina (BB-55)
USS Pennsylvania (BB-38)
USS South Dakota (BB-57)
USS Washington (BB-56)
USS Wisconsin (BB-64)

Asbestos on Cruisers

Cruisers were used to protect other U.S. Navy ships from enemy attack. Over 100 Navy cruisers relied on asbestos-containing products like cables, insulation, and paneling before the risks were fully understood.

Just a few cruisers that used asbestos included:

USS Albany (CG-10)
USS Arkansas (CGN-41)
USS Bainbridge (CGN-25)
USS Belknap (CG-26)
USS Boston (CA-69)
USS Bremerton (CA-130)
USS California (CGN-36)
USS Canberra (CA-70)
USS Dale (CG-19)
USS Des Moines (CA-134)
USS England (CG-22)
USS Fox (CG-33)
USS Gridley (CG-21)
USS Houston (CL-81)
USS Josephus Daniels (CG-27)
USS Jouett (CG-29)
USS Leahy (CG-16)
USS Little Rock (CG-4)
USS Long Beach (CGN-9)
USS Los Angeles (CA-135)
USS Macon (CA-132)
USS Newport News (CA-148)
USS Oklahoma City (CG-5)
USS Quincy (CA-71)
USS Reeves (CG-24)
USS Salem (CA-139)
USS South Carolina (CGN-37)
USS Springfield (CG-7)
USS Toledo (CA-133)
USS Wilkes-Bare (CL-103)

Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide if you were exposed to asbestos on U.S. Navy ships and now have lung cancer. Learn about top treatments and options to help cover any expenses.

Asbestos on Cutters

Cutters were the main ships used by the U.S. Coast Guard for missions. More than 70 cutters are known to have used asbestos-containing materials, putting those who served aboard them at a high risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Coast Guard cutters with asbestos included:

USCGC Absecon (WHEC-374)
USCGC Androscoggin (WHEC-68)
USCGC Bering Strait (WHEC-382)
USCGC Bibb (WPG-31)
USCGC Chautauqua (WHEC-41)
USCGC Campbell (WPG-32)
USCGC Dallas (WHEC-716)
USCGC Dauntless (WMEC-624)
USCGC Diligence (WMEC-616)
USCGC Escape (WMEC-6)
USCGC Haida (WPG-45)
USCGC Half Moon (WHEC-378)
USCGC Ingham (WPG-35)
USCGC Jarvis (WHEC-725)
USCGC Matagorda (WHEC-371)
USCGC Mendota (WHEC-69)
USCGC Owasco (WHEC-39)
USCGC Rush (WHEC-723)
USCGC Steadfast (WMEC-623)
USCGC Tampa (WPG-48)
USCGC Vigorous (WMEC-627)
USCGC Yakutat (WHEC-380)

Asbestos on Destroyers

Any Navy destroyer built before the 1980s used asbestos for fireproofing and insulation. This put Navy veterans serving on these vessels at risk of mesothelioma later in life.

More than 900 Navy destroyers contained asbestos, including:

USS Abel P. Upshur (DD-193)
USS Bainbridge (DD-1)
USS Basilone (DD-824)
USS Burrows (DD-29)
USS Cassin Young (DD-793)
USS Damato (DD-871)
USS Dyson (DD-572)
USS Earle (DD-635)
USS Ernest G. Small (DD-838)
USS Farragut (DD-300)
USS Forrest (DD-461)
USS Helm (DD-388)
USS John A. Bole (DD-755)
USS Killen (DD-593)
USS Kimberly (DD-521)
USS MacLeish (DD-220)
USS Mayo (DD-422)
USS Nelson (DD-623)
USS Oldendorf (DD-972)
USS Palmer (DD-161)
USS Pope (DD-225)
USS Remey (DD-688)
USS Sands (DD-243)
USS Simpson (DD-221)
USS Shannon (DD-737)
USS Stickell (DD-888)
USS Tattnall (DD-125)
USS Waldron (DD-699)
USS Witek (DD-848)
USS Yarborough (DD-314)

Asbestos on Destroyer Escorts

Destroyer escorts helped protect supply ships from enemy vessels like submarines. More than 500 destroyer escorts were built with asbestos materials before the early 1980s, putting thousands of veterans in danger of cancer later in life.

Just a few of these destroyer escorts included:

USS Alger (DE-101)
USS Amesbury (DE-66)
USS Austin (DE-15)
USS Barber (DE-161)
USS Bowen (DE-1079)
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 Edsall (DE-129)
USS Eisele (DE-34)
USS French (DE-367)
USS Garcia (DE-1040)
USS Jobb (DE-707)
USS Lockwood (DE-1064)
USS McAnn (DE-73)
USS Moore (DE-240)
USS Slater (DE-766)

Asbestos on Escort Carriers

Escort carriers were private merchant vessels renovated by the Navy to protect cargo ships during World War II and beyond.

Many of these escort carriers contained asbestos:

USS Altamaha (CVE-18)
USS Barnes (CVE-20)
USS Carnegie (CVE-38)
USS Coral Sea (CVE-57)
USS Hoggatt Bay (CVE-73)
USS Midway (CVE-63)
USS Nehenta Bay (CVE-74)
USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80)
USS Salerno Bay (CVE-110)
USS Takanis Bay (CVE-89)
USS Tulagi (CVE-72)
USS Willapa (CVE-5)

Contact us now to get help finding treatments and compensation for your expenses if you have lung cancer or mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos on Navy ships.

Asbestos on Frigates

Frigates helped escort other ships safely to their destinations. Over 100 U.S. Navy frigates contained asbestos, putting those who served aboard them at risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma later in life.

Some of the frigates that used asbestos included:

USS Aylwin (FF-1081)
USS Boone (FFG-28)
USS Bronstein (FF-1037)
USS Clifton Sprague (FFG-16)
USS Connole (FF-1056)
USS Duncan (FFG-10)
USS Edward McDonnell (FF-1043)
USS Francis Hammond (FF-1067)
USS Gallery (FFG-26)
USS George Philip (FFG-12)
USS Halyburton (FFG-40)
USS Harold E. Holt (FF-1074)
USS Jesse L. Brown (FFT-1089)
USS Joseph Hewes (FFT-1078)
USS Kauffman (FFG-59)
USS Kirk (FF-1087)
USS Koelsch (FF-1049)
USS Mahlon S. Tisdale (FFG-27)
USS McClusky (FFG-41)
USS Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG-7)
USS Paul (FF-1080)
USS Pharris (FF-1094)
USS Reid (FFG-30)
USS Richard L. Page (FFG-5)
USS Schofield (FFG-3)
USS Stein (FF-1065)
USS Thach (FFG-43)
USS Voge (FF-1047)
USS Wadsworth (FFG-9)
USS Whipple (FF-1062)

Asbestos on Merchant Marine Ships

Merchant marine ships were private vessels contracted by the U.S. Navy to help make up its auxiliary fleet during wartime. While these ships weren’t built by the Navy, many still had asbestos-containing products aboard.

Merchant marine ships with asbestos included:

SS Alcoa Cavalier
SS Berkeley Victory
SS Borinquen
SS Burco Trader
SS C.H.M. Jones
SS Cilco Logger
SS Del Mar
SS Elizabeth W. Moran
SS Empire State
SS Excalibur
SS Little Butte
SS Gopher State
SS Keystone State
SS Pan Massachusetts
SS Pine Tree State
SS President Cleveland
SS Samuel Chase
SS Simon Benson
SS Socony 10
SS Spencer Kellogg
SS Steel Traveler
SS Thomas Lynch
SS Uruguay
SS William Hooper
SS William J. Bryan
SS Wilson B. Keene

Asbestos on Minesweepers

Minesweepers helped destroy mines left behind by enemy vessels. Nearly 300 U.S. Navy minesweepers are known to have used asbestos-containing materials prior to the early 1980s.

Some of these minesweepers included:

USS Avenge (AM-423)
USS Candid (AM-154)
USS Conflict (AM-85)
USS Defense (AM-317)
USS Devastator (AM-318)
USS Direct (AM-430)
USS Energy (AM-43)
USS Excel (AM-439)
USS Indicative (AM-250)
USS Jubilant (AM-255)
USS Kingfisher (AM-25)
USS Knave (AM-256)
USS Lapwing (AM-1)
USS Logic (AM-258)
USS Lucid (AM-259)
USS Peregrine (AM-373)
USS Strength (AM-309)
USS Surfbird (AM-383)
USS Triumph (AM-323)
USS Valor (AM-472)
USS Velocity (AM-128)
USS Waxwing (AM-389)
USS Widgeon (AM-22)
USS Zeal (AM-131)

Asbestos on Patrol Boats

During World War II and beyond, patrol boats allowed the U.S. Navy to quickly hit larger ships with torpedoes. More than 500 of these ships relied on asbestos-containing materials.

Patrol boats that used asbestos included:

USS Antelope (PG-86)
USS Asheville (PG-84)
USS Beacon (PG-99)
USS Benincia (PG-96)
USS Canon (PG-90)
USS Crockett (PG-88)
USS Defiance (PG-95)
USS Douglas (PG-100)
USS Grand Rapids (PGM-98)
USS Green Bay (PG-101)
USS Pegasus (PHM-1)
USS Ready (PG-87)
USS Surprise (PG-97)
USS Susanville (PC-1149)
USS Tacoma (PG-92)
USS Welch (PG-93)

Asbestos on Submarines

Submarines required extensive asbestos insulation and waterproofing to keep them safe underwater. Almost 400 U.S. Navy submarines contained asbestos. Since submarines were so cramped and spent long hours underwater, it was easy for asbestos exposure to occur.

Some submarines built with asbestos included:

USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)
USS Albacore (AGSS-569)
USS Argonaut (SS-166)
USS Balao (SS-285)
USS Birmingham (SSN-695)
USS Boston (SSN-703)
USS Bremerton (SSN-698)
USS Cabrilla (SS-288)
USS Casimir Pulaski (SSBN-633)
USS Catfish (SS-339)
USS Dallas (SSN-700)
USS Escolar (SS-294)
USS Finback (SSN-670)
USS Flasher (SSN-613)
USS George Bancroft (SSBN-643)
USS Glenard P. Lipscomb (SSN-685)
USS Groton (SSN-694)
USS Haddo (SSN-604)
USS Jacksonville (SSN-699)
USS Kamehameha (SSN-642)
USS La Jolla (SSN-701)
USS Memphis (SSN-691)
USS Parche (SSN-683)
USS New York City (SSN-696)
USS San Francisco (SSN-711)
USS Seawolf (SSN-575)
USS Quillback (SS-424)
USS Tunny (SSN-682)
USS Von Steuben (SSBN-632)
USS William H. Bates (SSN-680)

Get a free case review for help accessing compensation if you or a loved one may have been exposed to asbestos on Navy ships and now have lung cancer. You may be eligible even if your ship isn’t shown above.

Jobs at Risk of Asbestos Exposure on Navy Ships

The widespread use of asbestos on Navy ships put many service members in danger. However, some Navy Military Occupational Specialties (MOSs) required service members to work with or around asbestos every day. This increased the chances of exposure and getting sick later in life.

These jobs put service members at risk of asbestos exposure in Navy ships:

Boilermen and boiler technicians
Electricians
Enginemen and engine room mechanics
Deckhands and sailors
Firefighters
Gas turbine system technicians
Gunners and gunnery technicians
Hull technicians
Machinist’s mates
Pipefitters
Shipbuilders and shipyard workers like laggers
Steamfitters
Submarine engineers
Welders

Working with products containing asbestos on ships could have released fibers into the air. Anyone who breathed in or swallowed these fibers is at risk of developing lung cancer or mesothelioma 10-50 years later.

“I was a boiler room tender when I went aboard my first ship and started doing my first job. I asked them what the material was made out of and they told me it was asbestos. It didn’t kill anybody on the spot that’s for sure, but it took years later. That’s when it started catching up with us.”

— Walter Twidwell, U.S. Navy veteran with mesothelioma

Asbestos Use in Navy Shipyards

One of the highest-risk jobs for Navy asbestos exposure was shipyard work. Navy shipyard workers had to install, repair, and replace asbestos-containing parts on ships, so they were at an incredibly high risk of exposure and lung cancer.

More than 100 shipyards across 11 states used asbestos. Roughly 4.5 million people were exposed to asbestos in shipyards during World War II alone, according to a report by The New York Times.

Call (877) 446-5767 now if you were exposed to asbestos on Navy ships or in shipyards and now have lung cancer or mesothelioma. We can help you get medical care, financial compensation, and more to make life easier.

Products Containing Asbestos on Navy Ships

Thousands of different products containing asbestos were used throughout U.S. Navy ships to help with fireproofing, insulation, and durability. Many Navy veterans were exposed to asbestos on an everyday basis because of these products.

Notable products containing asbestos on Navy ships included:

Adhesives
Boilers
Cables
Caulking
Ceiling and floor tiles
Deck coverings
Electrical wiring and coating
Engines
Gaskets and valves
Insulation
Lagging and rope
Linings of steel walls, plates, and doors
Paint
Panels
Pipes, pipe insulation, and coverings
Pumps
Tubing
Turbines

Handling, repairing, or installing asbestos-containing materials could send dust flying into the air. Breathing in or swallowing it could expose Navy service members to asbestos, causing them to develop mesothelioma or lung cancer decades later.

Compensation and Benefits for Veterans Harmed By Asbestos on Navy Ships

Veterans who develop lung cancer or mesothelioma from asbestos on Navy ships may qualify for benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and legal compensation.

Compensation options include:

Lawsuits: You may be able to file a lawsuit if you developed mesothelioma or lung cancer from asbestos on Navy ships. Some veterans receive $1 million or more through Navy asbestos settlements. The military and government aren’t sued.
Asbestos trust funds: These funds contain $30 billion today and allow you to get money without filing a lawsuit.
VA benefits: The VA awards over $4,000 a month for mesothelioma or lung cancer in most cases. You can also get free or inexpensive health care, survivor benefits, pension plans, and more.

Lung Cancer Group partners with lung cancer lawyers, some of whom are U.S. veterans themselves, to help veterans harmed by asbestos on Navy ships get the compensation they deserve.

Get a free case review now to find out which types of lung cancer compensation you may qualify for.

We’re Here to Help Veterans Exposed to Asbestos on Navy Ships

Any U.S. veteran who served aboard naval ships before the early 1980s is at risk of lung cancer or mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure.

Cancer has serious physical and financial consequences. The Lung Cancer Group team is here to help you better understand these cancers and pursue compensation, so you can access the treatments you need.

We can help you and your family members:

Determine if asbestos on Navy ships caused your cancer
Explore lung cancer and mesothelioma treatment options
Pursue VA benefits and compensation to cover your expenses

Call (877) 446-5767 or get our Free Lung Cancer Guide now to see how we can assist you or a loved one after exposure to asbestos on Navy ships.

Asbestos on U.S. Navy Ships FAQs

What was the toxic exposure on Navy ships?

Many service members risked exposure to a toxic material called asbestos aboard Navy ships. Asbestos-containing products like gaskets, insulation, and more were used on every Navy ship for decades.

However, anyone who came in contact with these products could develop lung cancer and mesothelioma 10-50 years later.

If you or a loved one served on a Navy ship decades ago and developed one of these cancers, it could be the result of asbestos exposure. As a result, you may be eligible for VA benefits and compensation to cover medical bills and other expenses.

Are sailors at risk of asbestos-related cancer?

Yes, many sailors are in danger of asbestos-related cancer. Navy veterans who served before the early 1980s are at a particularly high risk, since virtually every military ship relied on asbestos.

Asbestos-related cancers like lung cancer and mesothelioma can develop decades after asbestos exposure. This means if you served decades ago, you’re still at risk of asbestos-related cancers today.

Contact our team for help if you served aboard a Navy ship decades ago and later developed lung cancer, mesothelioma, or another asbestos-related illnesses.

When was asbestos banned on ships?

The U.S. Navy banned the use of asbestos aboard new Navy ships starting in the late 1970s. It was used up until this time because it was thought to be safe, since manufacturers hid the health risks.

Most of the Navy fleet was renovated to remove asbestos materials from older ships in the 1980s.

Is asbestos still used on Navy ships?

Yes, asbestos can still be found on a handful of older Navy ships. However, in these cases the asbestos is in good shape and doesn’t pose a risk to human health.

Still, it’s believed that thousands of U.S. veterans were exposed to asbestos on Navy ships before the risks were known. U.S. veterans are still in danger today as it takes 10-50 years for lung cancer or mesothelioma to develop after asbestos exposure.

Can you sue the Navy for asbestos exposure?

While you can’t sue the Navy for asbestos exposure, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the companies that manufactured the asbestos-containing products that made you sick.

These manufacturers knew asbestos was dangerous but hid the health risks for decades. You can still file for VA benefits if you file a Navy lung cancer or mesothelioma lawsuit.

Get a free case review now to learn if you’re eligible to file a mesothelioma or lung cancer lawsuit following service on asbestos ships.

Can I receive VA disability for asbestos exposure on Navy ships?

Possibly. Veterans who developed lung cancer, mesothelioma, or other asbestos-related diseases from asbestos on Navy ships may qualify for VA benefits.

The VA often rates lung cancer and mesothelioma as 100% disabilities, meaning veterans can get the highest disability payouts and the lowest health care copays.

Call (877) 446-5767 for help accessing VA disability benefits after exposure to asbestos on Navy ships.