Garcia Class Frigate (FF-1040) — Asbestos in the Mid-1960s ASW Escort

The Garcia class frigates — ten ships commissioned between 1964 and 1968, designated FF-1040 through FF-1051 — were the United States Navy’s mid-1960s generation of ASW ocean escort frigates, directly preceding the larger Knox class in the ASW escort building program. Built at Bethlehem Steel’s Shipbuilding Division and other yards, Garcia class frigates used two Babcock & Wilcox boilers providing steam to a single Westinghouse geared steam turbine on a single shaft — the same general propulsion concept adopted by the subsequent Knox class. Garcia class frigates served as carrier battle group ASW escorts throughout the late Cold War period before decommissioning in the 1980s and early 1990s. Garcia class frigates incorporated asbestos-containing boiler insulation and steam plant pipe insulation throughout their two-boiler single-shaft propulsion plants consistent with the mid-1960s construction specifications of the Garcia class building period.

Garcia Class Steam Plant Asbestos

Garcia class frigates incorporated asbestos throughout their B&W and Westinghouse propulsion:

• Babcock & Wilcox boiler casing and drum insulation — the two Babcock & Wilcox boilers aboard Garcia class frigates incorporated asbestos-containing insulation on boiler casings and steam drum surfaces consistent with mid-1960s boiler construction specifications. Boilermen performing boiler maintenance in Garcia class firerooms worked in proximity to the asbestos-containing boiler casing insulation throughout their fireroom watch assignments
• Single-shaft steam main pipe insulation — the high-pressure steam mains running from the Garcia class boilers to the Westinghouse single-shaft main propulsion turbine incorporated asbestos-containing pipe insulation. Engineering ratings working in Garcia class engine rooms accumulated background asbestos exposure from the steam main pipe insulation
• Westinghouse propulsion turbine casing insulation — the Westinghouse single-shaft geared steam turbine aboard Garcia class frigates incorporated asbestos-containing turbine casing insulation consistent with mid-1960s turbine construction. Machinist’s Mates performing turbine maintenance worked in proximity to turbine casing insulation during each turbine maintenance evolution
• Auxiliary steam pipe insulation — the auxiliary steam systems throughout Garcia class engineering spaces incorporated asbestos-containing pipe insulation on auxiliary steam distribution piping consistent with the mid-1960s construction specifications

VA Claims for Garcia Class Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy frigate steam plant service. Machinist’s Mates, Boilermen, and engineering ratings who served aboard Garcia class frigates and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.

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.