Destroyer minelayers (DM) were Gleaves class and Fletcher class destroyer hulls converted for offensive mine laying operations by replacing torpedo tubes and some gun armament with mine rails and mine handling equipment. These conversions — including ships like USS Robert H. Smith (DM-23), USS Thomas E. Fraser (DM-24), and USS Shannon (DM-25) — retained the full high-pressure steam propulsion plant of the parent destroyer class while carrying mines and mine-laying equipment. Destroyer minelayers served in WWII Pacific and Atlantic mine-laying operations, covering approaches to Japanese bases and participating in the massive WWII mine-laying campaigns.

Gleaves and Fletcher Class Steam Plants and Asbestos

Destroyer minelayer steam propulsion retained the destroyer engineering plant with full asbestos insulation:

  • Converted destroyer boiler insulation — the 1,200 PSI Babcock & Wilcox or Combustion Engineering boilers in destroyer minelayer hulls used the same asbestos block insulation on boiler casings and asbestos refractory in firebox construction as the parent destroyer class. Boiler Tender ratings maintaining these boilers worked in direct proximity to asbestos-insulated boiler surfaces in the destroyers’ fire rooms throughout the ship’s mine warfare service
  • Main steam system pipe insulation — the high-pressure main steam piping in destroyer minelayer hulls used asbestos pipe covering throughout the engineering spaces identical to the parent destroyer class installation. Engineering ratings in the confined destroyer engineering spaces were in continuous proximity to asbestos-insulated main steam piping
  • Turbine insulation — the main propulsion turbines and reduction gear aboard destroyer minelayers retained the parent destroyer’s asbestos-containing turbine insulation lagging throughout their service life

Mine Handling Spaces and Operations

Destroyer minelayer conversions added mine handling facilities to the destroyer hull:

  • The mine handling deck spaces and mine rails replacing after torpedo tube and gun positions used standard shipboard construction materials of the WWII construction era, with mine handling equipment installed in areas with asbestos-containing deck construction throughout the conversion areas of the ship

VA Claims for Destroyer Minelayer 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 destroyer minelayers (DM hull numbers) 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 Destroyer Minelayer (DM)

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.