Minemen — MN ratings — maintained naval mines, handled mine countermeasure equipment, and operated mine warfare systems aboard ocean minesweepers (MSO), minesweeper coastal (MSC), and mine warfare support ships, as well as at shore mine assembly and storage facilities. MN billets were concentrated at mine warfare commands, minesweeper squadrons, and naval weapons station mine assembly and storage facilities.

Minesweeper Engineering Spaces and Asbestos

MN ratings serving aboard minesweepers accumulated asbestos exposure from shipboard construction:

  • Ocean minesweeper (MSO) engineering spaces — the Aggressive class and Acme class ocean minesweepers used diesel-electric propulsion systems with auxiliary systems and crew habitability systems using steam-heated components. The engineering spaces aboard MSO-class ships were constructed with asbestos-containing insulation on piping and auxiliary machinery consistent with 1950s-era naval construction. MN ratings quartered and working aboard ocean minesweepers throughout their sea duty assignments were in proximity to the ship’s asbestos-containing construction materials
  • Mine storage and handling spaces — the mine handling and storage compartments aboard ocean minesweepers and mine warfare support ships used interior construction with period materials including asbestos-containing deck tile and bulkhead insulation consistent with the era of the vessel’s construction
  • Minesweeper coastal (MSC) spaces — smaller minesweeper coastal vessels had confined below-deck spaces with diesel engineering systems, with the small-ship interior construction using asbestos-containing materials in the deck and overhead construction

Shore Mine Assembly and Weapons Station Facilities

MN ratings at naval weapons station mine assembly facilities accumulated secondary asbestos exposure:

  • Mine assembly building stock — the mine assembly and maintenance buildings at naval weapons stations and mine assembly commands were industrial building stock of WWII-era or early Cold War construction using asbestos-containing roofing, insulation, and floor materials in the building construction. MN ratings performing mine assembly and maintenance work in these facilities were in proximity to the building’s aging asbestos-containing materials throughout their shore duty assignments

VA Claims for MN Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure aboard Navy mine warfare vessels and at naval weapons station facilities. Minemen who served aboard ocean minesweepers or at mine assembly shore facilities with WWII-era or Cold War building stock and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.