Coontz Class Guided Missile Destroyer (DLG-6) — Asbestos in the Cold War Guided Missile Frigate

The Coontz class guided missile frigates — ten ships commissioned 1960–1961 and originally designated DLG-6 through DLG-15 before redesignation as DDG-40 through DDG-48 in 1975 — were the United States Navy’s first purpose-built Terrier surface-to-air guided missile escort ships. The Coontz class used four Babcock & Wilcox boilers providing high-pressure steam to two General Electric geared steam turbines driving two shafts, giving the class the high-speed performance required for carrier battle group escort duty. The Coontz class served throughout the Cold War as fleet air defense escorts for carrier battle groups, providing the Terrier long-range surface-to-air missile capability for fleet defense. Coontz class guided missile frigates were major warships — over 500 feet in length displacing approximately 5,800 tons — and incorporated asbestos-containing boiler insulation, steam plant pipe insulation, and equipment gasket materials throughout their four-boiler steam propulsion plants consistent with early 1960s naval construction specifications.

Coontz Class Four-Boiler Steam Plant Asbestos

Coontz class frigates incorporated asbestos throughout their B&W and GE propulsion arrangement:

• Babcock & Wilcox boiler casing insulation — the four Babcock & Wilcox boilers aboard Coontz class ships incorporated asbestos-containing insulation on the boiler casings and steam drum surfaces consistent with the boiler construction practice of the late 1950s construction period. Boilermen performing boiler maintenance and inspection in the Coontz class firerooms worked in proximity to the asbestos-containing boiler casing insulation throughout their fireroom watch assignments
• High-pressure steam main pipe insulation — the high-pressure steam mains running from the four Coontz class boilers to the two General Electric main propulsion turbines incorporated asbestos-containing pipe insulation consistent with the steam plant construction specifications of the period. Engineering ratings working in Coontz class engine rooms and firerooms accumulated background asbestos exposure from the steam main pipe insulation
• General Electric main propulsion turbine casing insulation — the two General Electric geared steam turbines providing main propulsion power aboard Coontz class ships incorporated asbestos-containing insulation on the turbine casings and steam chest assemblies. Machinist’s Mates performing main propulsion turbine maintenance in Coontz class engine rooms worked in proximity to the turbine casing insulation during turbine inspection and maintenance operations
• Ship’s service turbine generator steam systems — the ship’s service turbine generators providing ship’s service electrical power aboard Coontz class ships were steam-powered turbine generator units with asbestos-containing insulation on the steam supply piping and turbine casing surfaces consistent with 1960s turbine generator construction

Coontz Class Missile System Engineering Asbestos

Coontz class Terrier missile system engineering spaces incorporated asbestos:

• Missile magazine and handling room construction — the Terrier missile magazine spaces and below-deck missile handling rooms aboard Coontz class ships were constructed within the hull using construction materials incorporating asbestos-containing pipe insulation and insulation board consistent with early 1960s naval construction specifications. Gunner’s Mates and fire control technicians working in Coontz class missile handling spaces accumulated background asbestos exposure from the hull construction materials in the missile magazine areas
• Below-deck engineering and machinery space construction — the machinery spaces, pump rooms, and auxiliary machinery spaces throughout the Coontz class hull incorporated asbestos-containing pipe insulation and construction materials in the hull’s below-deck structure consistent with early 1960s naval construction

VA Claims for Coontz Class Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy guided missile ship service. Machinist’s Mates, Boilermen, and engineering ratings who served aboard Coontz 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.