Craven class fleet destroyers — 7 ships (USS Craven DD-382, USS Gridley DD-380, and related ships in the DD-382 through DD-398 range, commissioned 1937–1939) — were prewar destroyers emphasizing heavy torpedo armament with four quadruple torpedo tube mounts, closely related to the Gridley class design. These ships were built at Puget Sound Navy Yard and other yards. Like the Gridley class ships with which they are grouped, Craven class ships were powered by high-pressure Yarrow boilers driving Westinghouse geared turbines on a narrow hull optimized for speed and torpedo attack. Several Craven class ships were present at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and the class served throughout the Pacific campaign. As with all Navy combatants of the 1930s, asbestos insulation was used throughout the engineering spaces, steam distribution, and turbine machinery of these ships.

High-Pressure Steam Plant and Asbestos

Craven class destroyers used high-pressure steam propulsion with asbestos:

  • Main boiler insulation — the Yarrow boilers used asbestos block insulation on boiler casings and asbestos refractory in firebox construction from original commissioning. Firemen and Boiler Tender ratings in the fire rooms worked in proximity to asbestos-insulated boiler surfaces during Pacific operations
  • Main steam piping — the main steam distribution piping from boilers to the turbines used asbestos pipe covering throughout the engineering spaces of these destroyers. Engineering ratings were in proximity to asbestos-insulated steam lines during watch-standing
  • Turbine insulation — the Westinghouse geared turbines used asbestos-containing thermal insulation on turbine casing surfaces in the confined engine room spaces of these narrow-hulled destroyers

Pearl Harbor and Pacific Operations

Craven class ships served in Pacific operations from December 1941:

  • Craven class destroyers were present during the Pearl Harbor attack and served throughout subsequent Pacific campaign operations, with engineering ratings maintaining steam plant operations throughout wartime Pacific service

VA Claims for Craven 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 who served aboard Craven class destroyers 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 Craven 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.