General Motors’ Cleveland Diesel Engine Division, based in Cleveland, Ohio — later consolidated into GM’s Electro-Motive Division (EMD) — was a major supplier of diesel engines to the US Navy for destroyer escort (DE), conventional submarine, and auxiliary vessel propulsion throughout World War II and the Cold War. The Cleveland Diesel 16-278A and related engines were widely used as destroyer escort main propulsion engines (the FMR drive DEs), while other Cleveland Diesel engines served in generator and auxiliary applications across multiple vessel classes.

Asbestos in Cleveland Diesel Engine Components

Cleveland Diesel engines installed aboard Navy vessels used asbestos-containing sealing materials standard in diesel engine construction of the era:

  • Cylinder head gaskets — compressed asbestos cylinder head gaskets sealing each cylinder head to the engine block on all Cleveland Diesel engines, disturbed during cylinder head removal for valve grinding, liner inspection, and overhead maintenance
  • Exhaust manifold gaskets — asbestos sheet gaskets at exhaust manifold-to-head connections on high-temperature exhaust system joints, disturbed during exhaust system maintenance and manifold removal
  • Engine mounting and accessory gaskets — asbestos-containing gaskets at engine accessory connections, gear case covers, and other engine mounting surfaces, disturbed during major engine maintenance
  • Turbocharger connection gaskets on turbocharged Cleveland Diesel installations — asbestos gaskets at turbocharger inlet and outlet connections

Destroyer Escort Engineering Plant

The FMR (diesel-electric) destroyer escort plant using Cleveland Diesel engines installed multiple 16-cylinder Cleveland Diesel engines in the DE engineering spaces for propulsion generator power. Machinist’s Mates and Enginemen maintained these engines in the engineering spaces of Edsall and Cannon class destroyer escorts, performing periodic cylinder head and valve maintenance involving asbestos cylinder head gaskets.

Engineman (EN) Rating Exposure

Enginemen (EN) — the Navy rating primarily responsible for internal combustion diesel engine maintenance — performed cylinder head maintenance on Cleveland Diesel and other diesel engines as a primary duty. The cylinder head removal and replacement cycle, performed on a periodic maintenance schedule, involved direct handling of asbestos cylinder head gaskets during the gasket removal and new gasket installation process.

VA Claims

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from diesel engine maintenance aboard Navy vessels. Enginemen and Machinist’s Mates who performed cylinder head maintenance on Cleveland Diesel, ALCO, and other Navy diesel engines involving asbestos gaskets and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.