Dunlap class fleet destroyers — 2 ships (USS Dunlap DD-384 and USS Fanning DD-385, commissioned 1937) — were experimental destroyers built at Federal Shipbuilding (Kearny, New Jersey) as part of the 1930s Navy destroyer design program. The 2-ship Dunlap class was similar to the Gridley and Craven classes in design but represented variations in the propulsion plant and armament arrangement tested during this period of rapid destroyer development. These ships were powered by high-pressure boilers driving geared turbines. Both ships served in Pacific operations throughout WWII. As with all Navy destroyers of the 1930s era, asbestos insulation was used throughout the engineering spaces and steam distribution systems of these ships.

High-Pressure Steam Plant and Asbestos

Dunlap class destroyers used high-pressure steam propulsion with asbestos throughout:

  • Main boiler insulation — the high-pressure boilers used asbestos block insulation on boiler casings and asbestos refractory in firebox construction. Firemen and Boiler Tender ratings maintained these boilers in the fire rooms in direct proximity to asbestos-insulated boiler surfaces during Pacific operations
  • Main steam piping — the main steam distribution piping from boiler rooms to turbine rooms used asbestos pipe covering throughout the engineering spaces. Engineering ratings were in proximity to asbestos-insulated steam piping during watch-standing
  • Turbine insulation — the geared turbine installations used asbestos-containing thermal insulation on turbine casing surfaces in the destroyer engine rooms

WWII Pacific Service

Dunlap class ships served throughout the Pacific campaign from Pearl Harbor through war’s end, with engineering ratings maintaining steam plant operations during extended Pacific deployments.

VA Claims for Dunlap 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 Dunlap 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 Dunlap 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.