Gleaves class destroyers — 66 ships (DD-423 through DD-628, commissioned 1940–1943, including the Bristol class variant) — were the primary US Navy destroyer class alongside the Fletcher class during WWII, serving in both Atlantic and Pacific theaters in anti-submarine warfare, convoy escort, screening, and shore bombardment roles. Built at Bath Iron Works (Bath, Maine), Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company (Kearny, New Jersey), Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding, and other wartime yards, Gleaves class ships were powered by four Babcock & Wilcox boilers driving two sets of General Electric or Westinghouse geared turbines producing 50,000 shaft horsepower. These ships saw extensive combat service across both theaters throughout WWII.

WWII High-Pressure Steam Plant and Asbestos

Gleaves class destroyers used 1,200 PSI steam propulsion with asbestos insulation throughout:

  • Main boiler insulation — the four Babcock & Wilcox boilers in Gleaves class destroyers used asbestos block insulation on boiler casings and asbestos-containing refractory in firebox construction from the original WWII construction. Boiler Tenders maintaining these boilers worked in the destroyer’s two fire rooms in direct proximity to asbestos-insulated boiler surfaces throughout Atlantic and Pacific operations
  • Main steam system pipe insulation — the 1,200 PSI main steam system in Gleaves class destroyers used asbestos pipe covering on all steam distribution piping throughout the confined engineering spaces. Machinist’s Mate ratings in the engine room were in continuous proximity to asbestos-insulated steam piping during underway operations
  • Turbine insulation — the main propulsion turbines and reduction gear aboard Gleaves class destroyers used asbestos-containing thermal insulation lagging consistent with WWII destroyer construction specifications
  • Steam system 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 in the destroyer’s confined engineering spaces

WWII Destroyer Interior Construction

Gleaves class ships used standard WWII construction materials throughout:

  • The crew berthing, mess, and working spaces throughout these destroyers used WWII construction materials including asbestos deck tile and interior construction consistent with the wartime destroyer design era. The confined interior of these 348-foot destroyers placed all crew in proximity to the ship’s asbestos-containing interior construction

Postwar Service

Many Gleaves class ships served through the Korean War era:

  • Gleaves class destroyers remaining in service after WWII served as reserves and in limited active duty roles through the early 1950s, with crew members during this postwar period aboard ships carrying original WWII asbestos construction materials throughout

VA Claims for Gleaves 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 Gleaves class destroyers (DD-423 series) 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 Gleaves 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.