Brooke Class Guided Missile Escort (FFG-1) — Asbestos in the Tartar-Armed Frigate

The Brooke class guided missile frigates — six ships commissioned between 1966 and 1968, designated FFG-1 through FFG-6 — were the Tartar surface-to-air missile-armed variant of the Garcia class destroyer escort, combining the Garcia class single-shaft steam propulsion plant with an Mk 22 Tartar guided missile launching system for fleet air defense capability. Built at Lockheed Shipbuilding in Seattle, Washington, Brooke class ships used two Babcock & Wilcox boilers providing steam to a single Westinghouse geared steam turbine on a single shaft — the same propulsion arrangement as the Garcia class. The addition of the Tartar missile system to the Garcia class hull required the replacement of the after 5-inch gun mount with the Mk 22 single-arm missile launcher, giving the Brooke class a guided missile capability while retaining the Garcia class’s fundamental hull and machinery design. Brooke class guided missile frigates incorporated asbestos-containing boiler insulation and steam plant pipe insulation throughout their single-shaft propulsion plants consistent with the mid-1960s construction specifications of the Garcia/Brooke class building program.

Brooke Class Single-Shaft Steam Plant Asbestos

Brooke class FFGs incorporated the same steam plant asbestos profile as the Garcia class:

• Babcock & Wilcox boiler casing insulation — the two Babcock & Wilcox boilers aboard Brooke class FFGs incorporated asbestos-containing insulation on boiler casings and steam drum surfaces consistent with the mid-1960s boiler construction specifications. Boilermen performing boiler maintenance in Brooke class firerooms worked in proximity to the asbestos-containing boiler insulation throughout their engineering watch assignments
• Single-shaft steam main pipe insulation — the steam main piping connecting Brooke class boilers to the Westinghouse single-shaft propulsion turbine incorporated asbestos-containing pipe insulation. Engineering ratings accumulated background asbestos exposure from the steam system pipe insulation
• Westinghouse propulsion turbine casing insulation — the Westinghouse single-shaft geared steam turbine incorporated asbestos-containing turbine casing insulation. Machinist’s Mates performing turbine maintenance worked in proximity to turbine casing insulation

Brooke Class Tartar Missile System Space Asbestos

Brooke class missile system spaces incorporated mid-1960s construction:

• Below-deck Tartar missile magazine construction — the below-deck Tartar missile magazine and Mk 22 launcher handling spaces were constructed within the Brooke class hull using construction materials consistent with the mid-1960s construction specifications. Gunner’s Mate Missiles working in Brooke class missile handling spaces accumulated background asbestos exposure from the hull construction materials in the missile magazine areas

VA Claims for Brooke Class Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy guided missile frigate service. Machinist’s Mates, Boilermen, and crew members who served aboard Brooke class guided missile frigates 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.