Navy Minemen (MN) — the enlisted rating responsible for assembling, testing, handling, and laying naval mines — served aboard minelaying ships, minesweepers, mine countermeasures vessels, and mine warfare support ships throughout the Cold War era. Minemen assembled and tested naval mines in mine assembly facilities ashore and aboard mine warfare vessels, operated mine handling equipment for mine loading and deployment, and maintained mine test and calibration equipment aboard ship and at shore commands. MN ratings serving aboard mine warfare ships in the WWII and Cold War eras accumulated background asbestos exposure from the asbestos-containing interior construction of the mine warfare vessels — the floor tile, overhead insulation, and pipe insulation in crew compartments and working spaces aboard the mine warfare ships. Mine assembly facilities ashore were built using military construction materials with asbestos-containing building products in the facility construction, with Minemen working in these shore facilities accumulating background asbestos exposure from the facility construction.

Mine Warfare Ship Asbestos Exposure

Minemen aboard mine warfare vessels accumulated background asbestos exposure:

  • Minelayer and minesweeper interior construction — mine warfare ships of the WWII and Cold War eras — the fleet minelayers, auxiliary minelayers, and minesweepers aboard which Minemen served — were constructed using Navy construction materials with asbestos-containing floor tile, overhead materials, and pipe insulation in crew berthing and working space construction. Minemen serving aboard these mine warfare vessels accumulated background asbestos exposure from the asbestos-containing interior construction of their ships during their service tours
  • MCM and MSO minesweeper construction — ocean minesweepers (MSO) and mine countermeasures vessels of the Cold War era incorporated asbestos-containing building materials in crew space construction consistent with mid-century Navy construction specifications. Minemen serving aboard these minesweeping vessels accumulated background asbestos exposure from the vessel interior construction

Mine Assembly Facility Asbestos

MN ratings ashore in mine assembly facilities worked in asbestos-containing buildings:

  • Shore mine assembly facility construction — the mine assembly buildings and mine handling facilities at naval weapons stations and mine warfare facilities where Minemen assembled and tested naval mines were constructed using military construction materials with asbestos-containing building products in the facility construction. Minemen performing mine assembly and test operations in these shore facilities accumulated background asbestos exposure from the facility construction materials throughout their shore duty assignments

Mine Handling Equipment and Electrical Components

Mine equipment aboard ship incorporated some asbestos-containing materials:

  • Mine handling equipment — mine handling davits, conveyors, and handling equipment aboard mine warfare ships used electrical motor and control equipment that in mid-century production incorporated asbestos-containing components in some electrical insulation and control components. Minemen maintaining mine handling equipment performed routine maintenance on the electrical and mechanical systems of the handling equipment

VA Claims for Minemen

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure aboard Navy vessels and at naval shore commands. Minemen who served aboard mine warfare ships or at mine assembly shore facilities with asbestos-containing construction and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.