Forrest Sherman class destroyers — 18 ships (DD-931 through DD-951, commissioned 1955–1959) — were the first postwar destroyer class designed and built for the US Navy, incorporating lessons from WWII destroyer experience into a new 1955-era hull design with 1,200 PSI high-pressure steam propulsion. Built primarily at Bath Iron Works (Bath, Maine), Bethlehem Steel (San Francisco), Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging, and other yards, Forrest Sherman class ships served through the 1960s–1980s Cold War era in ASW and surface warfare escort roles. Eight ships received FRAM-equivalent modernization to destroyer escort (DE) or guided missile destroyer (DDG) configuration during service.

High-Pressure Steam Plant and Asbestos

Forrest Sherman class destroyers used 1,200 PSI steam propulsion with asbestos insulation:

  • Main boiler insulation — the 1,200 PSI Babcock & Wilcox and Combustion Engineering boilers aboard Forrest Sherman class destroyers used asbestos block insulation on boiler casings and asbestos-containing refractory in firebox construction. Boiler Technicians maintaining these boilers worked in proximity to asbestos-insulated boiler surfaces throughout the ship’s operational life
  • Main steam system pipe insulation — the high-pressure main steam system aboard Forrest Sherman class ships used asbestos pipe covering on steam distribution piping throughout the engineering spaces. Machinist’s Mates working on steam system components in the confined destroyer engineering spaces were in continuous proximity to asbestos-insulated piping
  • Turbine insulation — the main propulsion turbines aboard Forrest Sherman class destroyers used asbestos-containing thermal insulation lagging consistent with mid-1950s destroyer construction specifications
  • Valve and flange gasketing — the valve and flange connections throughout the 1,200 PSI steam system used asbestos-containing compressed fiber gaskets and packing for high-temperature steam sealing

1950s Construction Interior Materials

Forrest Sherman class ships used standard mid-1950s construction materials:

  • The crew berthing, mess, and working spaces throughout these destroyers used mid-1950s construction materials including asbestos deck tile, asbestos-containing overhead insulation, and bulkhead construction consistent with the postwar destroyer design era

Cold War Operations

Forrest Sherman class ships served through the Cold War in multiple roles:

  • These destroyers served as ASW escorts for carrier battle groups and amphibious forces, and several were converted to guided missile destroyers (DDG) or destroyer escorts with ASROC and other weapon system updates while retaining the original steam plant and asbestos-containing construction

VA Claims for Forrest Sherman Class Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure aboard Navy destroyers. Engineering ratings and crew members who served aboard Forrest Sherman class destroyers (DD-931 through DD-951) 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 Forrest Sherman Class (DD)

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 Presumptive Benefits — No Filing Deadline

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural disease as conditions presumed to be service-connected for Navy veterans with documented asbestos exposure under 38 CFR § 3.309(d). No statute of limitations applies to VA disability compensation claims.

Available benefits may include monthly disability compensation, Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses, priority VA healthcare enrollment, and Special Monthly Compensation for severe cases. Parallel claims against the asbestos bankruptcy trust funds established by the manufacturers of these products do not reduce VA compensation.

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.