The WWII destroyer escort (DE) program produced 563 hulls of multiple classes between 1943 and 1945, including the Edsall class (diesel-electric drive), Buckley and Rudderow classes (turbo-electric drive), Cannon class (diesel-electric), and John C. Butler class (geared steam turbines) — all designed for convoy escort and anti-submarine warfare in the North Atlantic. Despite their smaller size compared to fleet destroyers, destroyer escorts contained asbestos insulation in their engineering plants in proportion to their propulsion systems.

Propulsion Variants and Asbestos

The DE classes used three different propulsion arrangements, each with its own asbestos profile:

Geared Steam Turbine DEs (John C. Butler class, WGT variant)

  • Steam turbine plants with B&W boilers using asbestos block insulation on boiler casings and steam piping — the same type of asbestos exposure as destroyer-class steam propulsion
  • Main steam turbine casings with asbestos block insulation and valve packing throughout the steam distribution

Turbo-Electric DEs (Buckley and Rudderow classes, TE variant)

  • Steam boilers driving GE turbo-generators for electric drive motors — boiler asbestos insulation on boiler casings, steam drums, and steam piping identical to other steam-boiler installations
  • Turbo-generator connections and steam distribution piping throughout the engineering spaces with asbestos block lagging

Diesel-Electric DEs (Edsall and Cannon classes, FMR variant)

  • GM diesel engines driving generators for electric motors — no steam boilers, but asbestos gaskets on diesel engine cylinder heads and exhaust manifolds
  • Diesel engine cooling system and exhaust system connections used asbestos sheet gaskets and packing at flanged connections

WWII and Postwar Service

Destroyer escorts served extensively throughout WWII in the North Atlantic and Pacific theaters in convoy escort and anti-submarine operations. After WWII, many DEs were reclassified as ocean escorts (DE remaining active), transferred to allied navies under Mutual Defense Assistance Program arrangements, or placed in reserve. US veterans who served aboard DEs of any class during WWII and the Korean War era accumulated asbestos exposure from the original construction.

Named Destroyer Escort Classes

Major DE classes in the WWII program include the Edsall class (85 hulls, DE-129 through DE-316 series), Buckley class (102 hulls, TE drive), Cannon class (72 hulls, diesel-electric), Rudderow class (22 hulls, TE drive), and John C. Butler class (83 hulls, geared turbine). Named vessels include USS Edsall (DE-129), USS Buckley (DE-51), USS Cannon (DE-99), USS John C. Butler (DE-339), and others across the 563-vessel program.

VA Claims for DE 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. Veterans who served aboard WWII destroyer escorts and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits. WWII-era claims require service record documentation in the absence of DD-214 records.

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 Destroyer Escorts (DE)

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.