Colorado class battleships — 4 ships (USS Maryland BB-46, USS Colorado BB-45, USS West Virginia BB-48, and USS Washington BB-47, commissioned 1921–1923) — were the US Navy’s first battleships mounting 16-inch guns in triple turrets, representing the ultimate development of the standard-type battleship series. USS Washington BB-47 was scrapped under the Washington Naval Treaty before completion. Three Colorado class ships survived to serve in WWII: USS Maryland and USS West Virginia were both at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 (West Virginia was sunk and later raised), and USS Colorado was at the Navy Yard for maintenance. All three served throughout the Pacific campaign in shore bombardment and fire support roles. Colorado class ships were powered by turbo-electric propulsion with Babcock & Wilcox boilers, using asbestos-containing steam plant insulation throughout.

Turbo-Electric Steam Plant and Asbestos

Colorado class battleships used turbo-electric propulsion with asbestos throughout:

  • Main boiler insulation — the Babcock & Wilcox boilers used asbestos block insulation on boiler casings and asbestos-containing refractory in firebox construction from original commissioning. Boiler Tender ratings maintaining these boilers worked in the fire rooms in direct proximity to asbestos-insulated boiler surfaces throughout interwar service and WWII Pacific operations
  • Main steam distribution piping — the steam piping from boilers to turbo-electric generator sets used asbestos pipe covering throughout the machinery spaces. Engineering ratings on watch were in continuous proximity to asbestos-insulated steam piping during underway operations
  • Pearl Harbor repairs and reconstruction — USS West Virginia’s extensive 1942–1944 reconstruction at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard following her sinking at Pearl Harbor incorporated new construction with WWII-era materials including asbestos-containing pipe insulation and asbestos floor tile in the reconstructed sections

WWII Pacific Campaign Service

Colorado class ships served throughout the Pacific campaign:

  • The three surviving Colorado class ships participated extensively in Pacific island bombardment from the Gilbert Islands through Okinawa, with engineering ratings serving continuous watches in the asbestos-insulated engineering spaces throughout wartime Pacific service

VA Claims for Colorado 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 Colorado class battleships 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 Colorado 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 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.