Casablanca class escort carriers — 50 ships (CVE-55 through CVE-104, commissioned 1943–1944) — were mass-produced WWII escort carriers (nicknamed “jeep carriers” or “baby flattops”) built at Kaiser Shipyards in Vancouver, Washington on a standardized hull derived from the C3 cargo vessel. Unlike fleet carriers, Casablanca class ships used reciprocating steam engines — two Skinner Unaflow engines — rather than turbine propulsion, providing a simpler and more easily mass-produced engineering plant. These ships provided anti-submarine warfare and convoy escort air support in the Atlantic, and close air support and ASW coverage in the Pacific. Several Casablanca class ships were lost in the Battle off Samar (October 1944) — including USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73) and USS St. Lo (CVE-63) — during the defense of the Leyte Gulf landings.

Reciprocating Engine Plant and Asbestos

Casablanca class escort carriers used reciprocating steam engines with asbestos throughout the engineering plant:

  • Main boiler insulation — the four Combustion Engineering boilers powering Casablanca class ships used asbestos block insulation on boiler casings and asbestos-containing refractory in the firebox construction. Boiler Tender ratings maintaining these boilers worked in proximity to asbestos-insulated boiler surfaces in the escort carrier’s engineering spaces during underway operations
  • Main steam system insulation — the main steam piping from the four boilers to the two reciprocating engines used asbestos pipe covering throughout the engineering spaces. Engineering ratings in the engine rooms were in continuous proximity to asbestos-insulated steam piping during operations
  • Reciprocating engine cylinder insulation — the large Skinner Unaflow reciprocating steam engines aboard Casablanca class ships used asbestos-containing insulation on the high-temperature engine cylinder surfaces and steam distribution components in the engine room

WWII Mass Production Interior Construction

Casablanca class ships were built rapidly using wartime production techniques:

  • These ships were built at a rate of approximately one per week at Kaiser Vancouver using wartime mass production methods, with interior construction using standard WWII wartime materials including asbestos-containing deck covering, overhead insulation, and interior construction products throughout the hangar deck and below-deck crew spaces

VA Claims for Casablanca 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 Casablanca class escort carriers (CVE-55 through CVE-104) 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 Casablanca Class (CVE)

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.