Admirable class fleet minesweepers — 108 ships in the AM-136 through AM-467 series (commissioned 1942–1946) — were the most numerous WWII US Navy fleet minesweeper class, built at Associated Shipbuilders (Seattle), Gulf Shipbuilding (Chickasaw, Alabama), and other yards. Admirable class ships served in mine clearance operations throughout WWII and continued in service through the Korean War, where minesweeping operations in Korean coastal waters proved critical to the war’s amphibious operations. Unlike the steam-powered Raven and Auk classes, Admirable class minesweepers were powered by diesel-electric propulsion — General Motors diesel generators driving electric motors — giving them good range and reliability for sustained mine warfare operations. Asbestos-containing materials were used throughout Admirable class ships in gaskets, pipe covering, and interior construction consistent with WWII-era naval construction.

Diesel-Electric Machinery and Asbestos

Admirable class diesel-electric propulsion systems used asbestos-containing materials:

  • Diesel engine exhaust and cooling system gaskets — the General Motors diesel generators used asbestos-containing exhaust manifold gaskets and cooling system component gaskets in the diesel engine assembly. Enginemen performing diesel maintenance encountering these gasket materials accumulated asbestos exposure from diesel engine overhaul operations
  • Diesel exhaust piping insulation — the diesel generator exhaust piping systems used asbestos pipe insulation on exhaust lines in the machinery spaces. Engineering ratings on watch were in proximity to asbestos-insulated exhaust piping in the confined minesweeper machinery spaces
  • Auxiliary machinery piping gaskets — the auxiliary machinery systems used asbestos-containing gasket materials in pipe flange connections throughout the engineering spaces and throughout the vessel’s service systems

Korean War Minesweeping Operations

Admirable class ships served in critical Korean War minesweeping:

  • Admirable class minesweepers participated in Korean War mine clearance operations, including the famous October 1950 Wonsan Harbor minesweeping operations that delayed the Inchon landings, with engineering ratings serving continuous watches in the diesel-electric machinery spaces during intensive combat minesweeping operations

VA Claims for Admirable Class Veterans

VA evaluates asbestos-related disability claims on a case-by-case basis. Veterans generally need evidence of in-service asbestos exposure, a current asbestos-related diagnosis, and a medical link between them. Engineering ratings and crew members who served aboard Admirable class minesweepers and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.

Product & Manufacturer Reference

The asbestos-containing products documented on U.S. Navy vessels and at shipyards are catalogued by manufacturer on AsbestosIndex. These records cross-reference which companies supplied which materials and to which facilities.

Pipe Covering & Block Insulation Thermal insulation applied to steam lines, valves, and equipment in engine rooms and fire rooms Marine Products Insulation, gaskets, and packing products specified for naval and commercial marine applications Boilers & Steam Equipment Boiler manufacturers and insulation products — central to the fire room exposure pathway Gaskets & Packing Sheet and ring gaskets used throughout piping flanges, valve bonnets, and pump housings Electrical Products Wire insulation, switchgear arc chutes, and panel liners used throughout electrical spaces Full Product Index Search all 200+ manufacturers and 1,500+ documented asbestos products on AsbestosIndex™

Navy Ratings Most Exposed to Asbestos Aboard Admirable Class

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the public asbestos litigation record document that the following Navy ratings worked routinely in spaces where ACM was installed, maintained, ripped out, and replaced:

VA Disability Claims for Asbestos-Related Disease

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs evaluates asbestos claims individually. A veteran generally needs medical evidence of a current asbestos-related disease, service evidence supporting in-service asbestos exposure, and a medical opinion connecting the two. Ship assignments, Navy ratings, and equipment records can help document the exposure history but do not create automatic service connection.

Approved claims may provide monthly disability compensation and related benefits. Survivors may separately qualify for Dependency & Indemnity Compensation when the applicable requirements are met. Civil lawsuits and asbestos-trust claims use different standards; claimants should obtain individualized advice about how the processes interact.

How to file a VA disability claim: VA claims are filed directly with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — not with a law firm. Start at VA.gov › Hazardous Materials Exposure, call 1‑800‑827‑1000, or get free help filing from a Veterans Service Organization: DAV, VFW, or American Legion.

VA Claims Guide on This Site › Compare: VA vs. Civil Lawsuit

Source notes: equipment-manifest entries (where shown) are sourced from public-record BUSHIPS (Bureau of Ships) documentation, NARA archives, and the public asbestos litigation record. Manufacturer attributions link to documented asbestos-product histories on AsbestosIndex.com where available. Nothing on this page constitutes medical or legal advice.