Navy Ship Class Mesothelioma Lawyers
Mesothelioma exposure on US Navy ships spans 14 documented classes from WWII Liberty ships through modern Nimitz-class supercarriers. Find your ship class below.
Liberty Ship
Liberty ships were the iconic WWII emergency cargo ships — 2,710 built between 1941 and 1945, the largest single-class run in maritime history. Kaiser's Richmond Shipyards alone employed 90,000 work...
2,710 (largest single-class run in maritime history) built · 1941-1945 production; many in service through 1970s
Victory Ship
Victory ships were the WWII successor to Liberty ships — 531 built between 1944 and 1946. Faster and more durable than Liberty ships, many remained in service through the 1980s. Same asbestos use as...
531 built · 1944-1946 production; service into 1980s
Nimitz-class
The 10 Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers (CVN-68 USS Nimitz through CVN-77 USS George H.W. Bush) were all built at Newport News Shipbuilding from 1968 (start of CVN-68) through 2009 (CVN-...
10 (CVN-68 through CVN-77) built · 1975-present (USS Nimitz CVN-68 commissioned 1975)
Forrestal-class
The 4 Forrestal-class carriers (1955-1998) used extensive asbestos in boiler rooms, machinery spaces, pipe lagging, and gaskets. Sailors served in compartments with concentrated asbestos fibers. Forre...
4 (CV-59 Forrestal, CV-60 Saratoga, CV-61 Ranger, CV-62 Independence) built · 1955-1998
Iowa-class
The 4 Iowa-class battleships served from WWII through Operation Desert Storm (1991). USS Missouri hosted the Japanese surrender (1945). All 4 served Korea, Vietnam, and Lebanon. Reactivated in the 198...
4 (BB-61 Iowa, BB-62 New Jersey, BB-63 Missouri, BB-64 Wisconsin) built · 1943-1991 (4 reactivations)
Virginia-class
Virginia-class fast-attack subs were designed asbestos-free, but shipyard workers building them at Electric Boat Groton (CT) and Newport News (VA) face documented exposure to legacy asbestos in adjace...
23+ (SSN-774 Virginia onward) built · 2004-present
Los Angeles-class
62 Los Angeles-class fast-attack subs built between 1972 and 1996 — the largest US submarine class. Earlier units used asbestos in machinery spaces and pipe lagging. Submariners served in confined c...
62 (SSN-688 Los Angeles through SSN-773 Cheyenne) built · 1976-present
Arleigh Burke-class
Arleigh Burke-class destroyers (DDG-51) have been built at Bath Iron Works (Maine) and Ingalls Shipbuilding (Mississippi) since 1985. Designed asbestos-free, but BIW and Ingalls shipyards have legacy ...
70+ (DDG-51 Arleigh Burke onward) built · 1991-present
Ohio-class
All 18 Ohio-class Trident submarines were built at Electric Boat Groton between 1976 and 1997. The largest US submarines in service. Earlier units used asbestos in machinery spaces. Crews served on mu...
18 (SSBN-726 Ohio through SSBN-743 Louisiana) built · 1981-present
Fletcher-class
175 Fletcher-class destroyers were built between 1942 and 1944 — the workhorse of the WWII Pacific Fleet. Asbestos was used pervasively in boiler rooms, engine rooms, pipe lagging, and gaskets. Sail...
175 (largest destroyer class) built · 1942-1970s (some served Vietnam)
Essex-class
24 Essex-class aircraft carriers built during WWII. Includes USS Yorktown CV-10, USS Hornet CV-12, USS Lexington CV-16. Many served through Korea and Vietnam, and 4 served as helicopter carriers (LPH)...
24 built · 1942-1991
Spruance-class
All 31 Spruance-class destroyers were built at Ingalls Shipbuilding (Pascagoula, MS) between 1972 and 1983. Asbestos was used in machinery spaces. Crews served on Spruance-class through 2005. Document...
31 (DD-963 Spruance through DD-997 Hayler) built · 1975-2005
Gato/Balao/Tench class
The 247 WWII Gato-class (77), Balao-class (122), and Tench-class (31) submarines won the Pacific War. Built primarily at Electric Boat (Groton), Manitowoc Shipbuilding (Wisconsin), Mare Island, and Po...
247 combined (Gato 77 + Balao 122 + Tench 31) built · 1941-1980 (some Korean/Vietnam War)
Tarawa-class (LHA)
5 Tarawa-class amphibious assault ships built at Ingalls Pascagoula. Asbestos was used in boiler rooms and machinery spaces. Sailors and embarked Marines served on Tarawa-class LHAs through 2015 with ...
5 (LHA-1 Tarawa through LHA-5 Peleliu) built · 1976-2015