Edsall class destroyer escorts — 85 ships (DE-129 through DE-635 series, commissioned 1943–1945) — were long-hull WWII destroyer escorts using Fairbanks Morse opposed-piston diesel-electric propulsion rather than the more common General Motors diesels used in the Evarts and Cannon classes. Edsall class ships were built at Consolidated Steel in Orange, Texas, and Brown Shipbuilding in Houston, Texas. These ships served extensively in Pacific operations and Atlantic convoy escort, with the Edsall class noted for the loss of USS Edsall (DE-129) to Japanese naval gunfire in March 1942. The Fairbanks Morse diesel-electric propulsion system and the extensive asbestos-containing gasket and packing materials in the ship’s mechanical systems created asbestos exposure for engineering ratings throughout the Edsall class service life.

Fairbanks Morse Diesel-Electric Machinery and Asbestos

Edsall class propulsion systems used asbestos-containing materials:

  • Fairbanks Morse opposed-piston diesel engine gaskets — the Fairbanks Morse Model 38 8-1/8 opposed-piston diesel engines used asbestos-containing cylinder head and exhaust manifold gaskets in the engine assembly. Enginemen performing diesel overhaul operations removing cylinder heads and exhaust manifold components from these engines encountered asbestos fiber from the compressed asbestos gasket materials in the diesel engine construction
  • Diesel exhaust system insulation — the diesel generator exhaust piping systems used asbestos-containing pipe insulation on the hot exhaust lines in the machinery spaces. Engineering ratings in the machinery spaces were in proximity to asbestos-insulated exhaust piping throughout their watch-standing assignments
  • Auxiliary system piping and gaskets — the auxiliary machinery piping systems throughout Edsall class ships used asbestos-containing gasket materials in pipe flange connections and asbestos-containing packing in valve stem seals throughout the engineering spaces

VA Claims for Edsall 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 Edsall class destroyer escorts 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 Edsall 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.