Auk class fleet minesweepers — 65 ships in the AM-69 through AM-240 series (commissioned 1942–1946) — were the principal WWII-era mine warfare ships, designed as larger and more capable fleet minesweepers than the preceding Raven class. Built at multiple yards including General Engineering and Drydock (Alameda), Gulf Shipbuilding (Chickasaw, Alabama), and American Shipbuilding, Auk class ships served in mine clearance operations in advance of virtually every major WWII amphibious landing in both Atlantic and Pacific theaters. These ships continued in service through the Korean War and some into the early Cold War. Auk class ships used turbo-electric propulsion driven by two Babcock & Wilcox boilers (in steam-powered variants) or diesel-electric propulsion. The steam propulsion variants carried asbestos insulation throughout the boiler rooms and steam distribution systems, and all variants used asbestos-containing materials in interior construction consistent with WWII-era shipbuilding.

Steam Plant and Asbestos in Steam-Powered Variants

Auk class steam-powered ships used asbestos throughout engineering spaces:

  • Main boiler insulation — steam-powered Auk class minesweepers used asbestos block insulation on boiler casings and asbestos refractory in firebox construction. Boiler Tender ratings maintaining these boilers worked in proximity to asbestos-insulated boiler surfaces in the confined engineering spaces of these mine warfare ships during WWII and Korean War operations
  • Steam distribution piping — the main steam piping from boilers to the turbo-electric generator sets used asbestos pipe covering throughout the engineering spaces. Engineering ratings were in proximity to asbestos-insulated steam piping during watch-standing in the machinery spaces
  • Turbo-generator insulation — the turbo-electric generator sets used asbestos-containing thermal insulation on turbine casing surfaces in the minesweeper engine rooms

WWII Mine Warfare Operations

Auk class ships served in the most dangerous naval mine clearance operations:

  • Auk class minesweepers served in mine clearance operations preceding every major Allied amphibious landing from North Africa through the Normandy invasion in the Atlantic and from Attu through Okinawa in the Pacific, with engineering ratings serving continuous watches in confined asbestos-insulated engineering spaces throughout extended wartime deployments

VA Claims for Auk Class Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure aboard Navy minesweepers. Engineering ratings and crew members who served aboard Auk 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 Auk 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 Presumptive Benefits — No Filing Deadline

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural disease as conditions presumed to be service-connected for Navy veterans with documented asbestos exposure under 38 CFR § 3.309(d). No statute of limitations applies to VA disability compensation claims.

Available benefits may include monthly disability compensation, Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses, priority VA healthcare enrollment, and Special Monthly Compensation for severe cases. Parallel claims against the asbestos bankruptcy trust funds established by the manufacturers of these products do not reduce VA compensation.

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.