Navy Gas Turbine Systems Technicians (Electrical) (GSE) — the enlisted rating responsible for the maintenance, operation, and repair of the electrical power systems, electrical control systems, and ship’s service electrical systems on gas turbine-powered surface combatants — served aboard Spruance class destroyers (DD-963 series), Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates (FFG-7 series), and Ticonderoga class cruisers (CG-47 series) throughout the Cold War and post-Cold War eras. GSE ratings maintained the ship’s service gas turbine generators, electrical switchboards, distribution systems, and propulsion control systems on gas turbine surface combatants. Gas Turbine Systems Technicians (Electrical) working in electrical machinery spaces and control rooms on the earliest-commissioned gas turbine surface combatants accumulated background asbestos exposure from the transitional-era construction materials present in the engineering and electrical system spaces of ships built in the late 1970s to early 1980s construction period.

Gas Turbine Electrical System Space Asbestos

GSE ratings in electrical machinery spaces accumulated background asbestos:

  • Ship’s service gas turbine generator space construction — the ship’s service gas turbine generator (SSGTG) spaces aboard Spruance class destroyers and Perry class frigates — housing the gas turbine generators providing ship’s service electrical power — were constructed within the ship hull using construction materials consistent with the late 1970s to early 1980s construction specifications. The earliest-commissioned Spruance class (DD-963 through DD-975, commissioned 1975–1978) and Perry class (FFG-7 through FFG-22, commissioned 1977–1981) ships were built during the transitional asbestos phase-out period, with SSGTG spaces potentially incorporating transitional-era asbestos-containing construction materials in the earliest-built boats
  • Main switchboard and electrical distribution room construction — the main switchboard rooms and electrical distribution spaces aboard Spruance, Perry, and Ticonderoga class ships were constructed as part of the ship hull using construction materials appropriate to each ship’s construction period. GSE ratings working in the main switchboard and electrical distribution spaces of the earliest-commissioned gas turbine surface combatants accumulated background asbestos exposure from any transitional-era asbestos-containing construction materials present in the electrical system spaces

Gas Turbine Exhaust System Electrical Instrumentation

GSE ratings maintaining exhaust system electrical instrumentation encountered asbestos adjacency:

  • Gas turbine exhaust system instrumentation — the LM2500 gas turbine exhaust uptake systems aboard Spruance, Perry, and Ticonderoga class ships incorporated temperature sensors, exhaust monitoring instrumentation, and exhaust fan electrical systems. GSE ratings performing electrical maintenance on gas turbine exhaust system instrumentation worked in proximity to the exhaust uptake insulation of the earliest-commissioned ships, which may have incorporated transitional-era asbestos-containing thermal insulation materials in the exhaust uptake construction of the late 1970s to early 1980s construction period

VA Claims for Gas Turbine Systems Technicians (Electrical)

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy gas turbine propulsion service. Gas Turbine Systems Technicians (Electrical) who served aboard early-commission Spruance class destroyers, Perry class frigates, or Ticonderoga class cruisers and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.