High-speed transports (APD) were US Navy vessels converted for fast transport of special operations forces — initially converted from the aging Clemson and Wickes class four-stack destroyers (APD-1 through APD-36), then from Rudderow and Charles Lawrence class destroyer escort hulls (APD-37 and above) — providing rapid amphibious delivery capability for Marine Raiders, Army Rangers, and Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs, the predecessors to Navy SEALs) throughout the WWII Pacific campaign. APD vessels carried a reduced armament to make room for troop berthing, landing craft davits, and equipment stowage while retaining the high-speed propulsion of the parent destroyer or destroyer escort hull.

Four-Stack APD Steam Plants and Asbestos

Early APD conversions from four-stack destroyer hulls carried aging WWI-era steam plants:

  • Aging destroyer steam plant insulation — the four-stack destroyer hulls converted to APD carried the original WWI-era boiler and steam system asbestos insulation that had been aging for twenty or more years before WWII service. This deteriorated asbestos insulation in aging boiler casing and steam pipe covering was in increasingly friable condition by the time these ships served as APDs, with asbestos fiber release more aggressive than in newer construction. Engineering ratings maintaining these aging steam plants worked in the confined engineering spaces of the converted destroyers in proximity to the deteriorating asbestos insulation
  • Converted hull interior construction — the troop berthing spaces converted from destroyer after-gun spaces and torpedo tube positions used conversion construction materials added in the APD modification, with original destroyer interior construction materials retained throughout the non-converted areas of the hull

Destroyer Escort APD Conversions

Later APD conversions from destroyer escort hulls used WWII construction:

  • The Rudderow and Charles Lawrence class DE hulls converted to APD (APD-37 and above) used the original destroyer escort diesel or steam propulsion and WWII-era construction materials throughout the hull, with asbestos-containing products present in the engineering spaces and interior construction of these WWII-commissioned vessels

VA Claims for APD 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 and crew members who served aboard APD high-speed transports 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 High-Speed Transport (APD)

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.