Metalsmiths — the ML rating — served as the United States Navy’s shipboard metal fabrication and repair specialists, responsible for welding, silver brazing, sheet metal fabrication, and structural metal repair aboard naval vessels. Metalsmiths maintained the ship’s repair capability for metal structures and components, working in the ship’s metal shop to fabricate replacement metal parts, repair damaged structural components, and perform welding and brazing on shipboard metalwork. Metalsmiths were assigned to surface combatants, auxiliary vessels, and repair ships where the on-board metal repair capability was needed for sustained operations at sea. Metalsmith duties frequently brought them into contact with asbestos-containing materials — cutting, welding, or fabricating metal components that had been thermally insulated with asbestos-containing pipe insulation, working in metal shops whose walls, decks, and overheads incorporated asbestos-containing construction materials, and working adjacent to steam plant components whose insulation contained asbestos. The ML rating was consolidated into the Hull Maintenance Technician (HT) rating in 1975.

Metalsmith Asbestos Exposure from Steam Plant Repair Work

Metalsmiths accumulated asbestos exposure during metal repair involving steam system components:

  • Steam pipe and fitting fabrication and repair — Metalsmiths fabricating and welding steam pipe sections, fittings, and steam plant metal components worked with and near asbestos-containing pipe insulation on the steam system components. Steam pipes, steam fittings, and steam system metal components were wrapped with asbestos-containing insulation that Metalsmiths encountered when welding on or near insulated steam components
  • Boiler casing and firebox metalwork — Metalsmiths performing welding and metal fabrication on boiler casing components, boiler access doors, and boiler metalwork worked in proximity to asbestos-containing boiler casing insulation and boiler refractory materials. Boiler repair work brought Metalsmiths into direct contact with asbestos-containing boiler insulation materials
  • Turbine casing and exhaust system metalwork — Metalsmiths performing metal repair and fabrication on turbine casings, exhaust piping, and propulsion machinery metal components worked in proximity to asbestos-containing turbine casing insulation and exhaust system insulation

Metalsmith Shop Construction Asbestos Exposure

Metalsmiths accumulated background asbestos exposure from metal shop construction:

  • Shipboard metal shop construction — the metal shops aboard naval vessels where Metalsmiths worked were constructed within the ship’s hull using the construction materials of the vessel’s building period. Metalsmiths working in metal shops aboard WWII-era and Cold War steam-powered naval vessels accumulated background asbestos exposure from the construction materials of those shipboard work spaces
  • Shore metal repair facility construction — shore-based metal fabrication and repair facilities at naval shipyards and ship repair facilities where Metalsmiths performed metal work were constructed using military industrial construction specifications incorporating asbestos-containing building materials

VA Claims for ML Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy shipboard metal shop service and steam plant repair work. Metalsmiths who accumulated asbestos exposure during their ML career and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.