Blue Ridge class amphibious command ships — two vessels (USS Blue Ridge LCC-19 and USS Mount Whitney LCC-20, commissioned 1970-1971) — were purpose-built fleet flagship and amphibious force command platforms providing command-and-control facilities for US Navy fleet commanders and amphibious task force commanders. Built at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard (Blue Ridge) and Newport News Shipbuilding (Mount Whitney), these ships provided extensive communications systems, battle management capability, and flag officer accommodations. USS Blue Ridge became the Seventh Fleet flagship homeported at NS Yokosuka, Japan, while USS Mount Whitney became the Second (later Sixth) Fleet flagship homeported at NS Norfolk.

Steam Plant and Asbestos

Blue Ridge class command ships commissioned in 1970-1971 used steam propulsion with asbestos-containing insulation:

  • Main steam system insulation — the steam propulsion plant aboard Blue Ridge class ships used asbestos pipe covering and insulation in the steam distribution system in the 1970-1971 construction that may have included asbestos-containing materials in construction areas where the Navy’s phase-down had not yet been completed. Machinist’s Mates maintaining the steam plant worked in proximity to steam system insulation in the ship’s engineering spaces
  • Boiler insulation — the main propulsion boilers aboard Blue Ridge class command ships used thermal insulation consistent with the transitional construction specifications of 1970-1971
  • Auxiliary steam systems — the extensive hotel steam systems serving the large flag accommodation and communications spaces aboard these command ships used insulated steam distribution piping throughout the vessel

Flag Accommodation and Command Spaces

Blue Ridge class ships provided extensive flag officer accommodation:

  • Flag country and staff berthing — the large flag officer accommodation spaces and staff working areas provided for the fleet commander and battle staff used interior construction materials consistent with the 1970-1971 construction era
  • Communications and command center — the extensive communications center and flag plot spaces with their electronic equipment installations occupied large areas of the ship’s interior in the period construction

Fleet Flagship Operations

Blue Ridge class ships served as permanent fleet flagships:

  • USS Blue Ridge’s service as Seventh Fleet flagship at Yokosuka, Japan has continued since commissioning, with crew members serving in the ship’s interior through multiple generations of Navy personnel
  • The long service lives of these command ships (both remain in commission) mean personnel who served in the earliest years of their service encountered the original 1970-era construction materials

VA Claims for Blue Ridge 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 USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) or USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20) during the early service period 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 Blue Ridge Class (LCC)

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.