Austin Class Amphibious Transport Dock (LPD-4) — Asbestos in the Cold War Gator Navy Workhorse

The Austin class amphibious transport docks — twelve ships commissioned between 1965 and 1971, designated LPD-4 through LPD-15 — were the primary amphibious transport docks of the United States Cold War amphibious force, combining helicopter assault capability with a well deck for landing craft operations and serving as the primary troop and equipment transport component of amphibious ready groups. Built at the New York Naval Shipyard and other yards, Austin class LPDs used two Babcock & Wilcox boilers providing steam to a single set of De Laval geared steam turbines on two shafts. The Austin class served as the workhorse of the Atlantic and Pacific Fleet amphibious forces throughout the Cold War, homeported at Little Creek, Virginia and San Diego, California as the primary troop transport element of amphibious ready groups. Austin class LPDs incorporated asbestos-containing boiler insulation and steam plant pipe insulation throughout their two-boiler propulsion plants consistent with the mid-1960s to early 1970s construction specifications, and incorporated extensive asbestos-containing interior construction materials in the large troop berthing and crew living spaces of the amphibious transport dock hull.

Austin Class Two-Boiler Steam Plant Asbestos

Austin class LPDs incorporated asbestos throughout their B&W boiler and De Laval turbine propulsion:

• Babcock & Wilcox boiler casing insulation — the two Babcock & Wilcox boilers aboard Austin class LPDs incorporated asbestos-containing insulation on boiler casings and steam drum surfaces consistent with the mid-1960s boiler construction specifications. Boilermen performing boiler maintenance in Austin class firerooms worked in proximity to the asbestos-containing boiler insulation throughout their engineering watch assignments
• Steam main and auxiliary steam pipe insulation — the steam main piping connecting Austin class boilers to the main propulsion turbines incorporated asbestos-containing pipe insulation consistent with the mid-1960s steam plant construction. Engineering ratings working in Austin class engine rooms accumulated background asbestos exposure from the steam system pipe insulation
• De Laval main propulsion turbine insulation — the De Laval geared steam turbines on the Austin class two-shaft arrangement incorporated asbestos-containing turbine casing insulation. Machinist’s Mates performing turbine maintenance in Austin class engine rooms worked in proximity to turbine casing insulation during maintenance operations
• Boiler feed pump and auxiliary turbine insulation — the turbine-driven boiler feed pumps and auxiliary machinery aboard Austin class LPDs incorporated asbestos-containing insulation on auxiliary turbine and pump assembly surfaces consistent with the mid-1960s construction specifications

Austin Class Interior Construction Asbestos

Austin class LPDs incorporated mid-1960s construction materials in extensive troop and crew spaces:

• Large troop berthing space construction — the troop berthing compartments accommodating several hundred embarked Marines aboard Austin class LPDs were constructed within the hull using interior construction materials consistent with the mid-1960s construction specifications. Pipe insulation and overhead construction in troop berthing spaces incorporated asbestos-containing materials consistent with the vessel’s construction period. Marines and ship’s company accumulated background asbestos exposure from the troop berthing construction throughout LPD deployments
• Well deck and flooding/deflooding system construction — the well deck and the ballast systems for well deck flooding and deflooding aboard Austin class LPDs incorporated pipe insulation on the ballast piping and construction materials in the well deck area consistent with the mid-1960s construction specifications

VA Claims for Austin Class Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy amphibious transport dock service. Machinist’s Mates, Boilermen, and crew members who served aboard Austin class amphibious transport docks and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.

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.