Commencement Bay class escort carriers — 19 ships (CVE-105 through CVE-127, commissioned 1944–1946) — were purpose-built on a new standardized hull (S4-S2-BB3) that was larger and more capable than the C3 cargo hull CVE conversions. Built at Todd-Pacific Shipyards (Seattle, Washington) and Todd Shipbuilding (Tacoma, Washington), Commencement Bay class ships were powered by two Combustion Engineering boilers driving Allis-Chalmers turbines for 19,000 shaft horsepower — a simplified steam plant suitable for escort carrier requirements. Many Commencement Bay class ships were completed too late for WWII combat and served through the early Cold War era in ASW carrier, utility carrier (CVU), and helicopter carrier roles before reserve fleet placement.

WWII-Era Steam Plant and Asbestos

Commencement Bay class carriers used simplified steam propulsion with asbestos throughout:

  • Main boiler insulation — the two Combustion Engineering boilers aboard Commencement Bay class ships used asbestos block insulation on boiler casings and asbestos-containing refractory in firebox construction from the original mid-1940s construction. Boiler Technicians maintaining these boilers worked in proximity to asbestos-insulated boiler surfaces throughout the ship’s service life
  • Main steam system pipe insulation — the main steam piping from two boilers to the propulsion turbines used asbestos pipe covering throughout the engineering spaces from the original 1944–1946 construction. Engineering ratings in the machinery spaces were in proximity to asbestos-insulated steam piping during the escort carrier’s operations
  • Turbine insulation — the Allis-Chalmers turbines aboard Commencement Bay class ships used asbestos-containing insulation lagging consistent with mid-1940s escort carrier construction

Mid-1940s Interior Construction

Commencement Bay class ships used WWII-era construction materials throughout:

  • The crew berthing, hangar deck, and working spaces throughout these purpose-built escort carrier hulls used mid-1940s construction materials including asbestos deck covering and interior construction consistent with the wartime escort carrier construction era

Cold War Service Periods

Many Commencement Bay class ships served through the early Cold War:

  • These ships served in various post-WWII roles through the 1950s, with crew members in the early Cold War era serving aboard ships carrying original mid-1940s asbestos construction materials that had been in service for ten to fifteen years by the time Cold War operations began

VA Claims for Commencement Bay Class Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure aboard Navy escort carriers. Engineering ratings and crew members who served aboard Commencement Bay class escort carriers (CVE-105 through CVE-127) 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 Commencement Bay 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 Presumptive Benefits — No Filing Deadline

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural disease as conditions presumed to be service-connected for Navy veterans with documented asbestos exposure under 38 CFR § 3.309(d). No statute of limitations applies to VA disability compensation claims.

Available benefits may include monthly disability compensation, Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses, priority VA healthcare enrollment, and Special Monthly Compensation for severe cases. Parallel claims against the asbestos bankruptcy trust funds established by the manufacturers of these products do not reduce VA compensation.

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.