Iwo Jima Class Helicopter Carrier (LPH-2) — Asbestos in the Cold War Helicopter Assault Ship

The Iwo Jima class amphibious assault ships — seven ships commissioned between 1961 and 1970, designated LPH-2 through LPH-12 — were the United States Navy’s first purpose-built helicopter assault ships designed specifically to land Marine forces ashore by helicopter assault. Built at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi and other yards, Iwo Jima class LPHs used two Babcock & Wilcox boilers providing steam to a single set of Westinghouse geared steam turbines on a single shaft, giving the class a steam propulsion arrangement appropriate to the 23,000-ton displacement helicopter assault ship. The Iwo Jima class served as the primary helicopter assault platform for Marine amphibious operations throughout the Cold War, with the class also providing a rotary-wing assault capability for contingency operations through the Vietnam War and Cold War period. Iwo Jima class LPHs incorporated asbestos-containing boiler insulation and steam plant pipe insulation throughout their two-boiler propulsion plants consistent with the early 1960s construction specifications, and incorporated asbestos-containing interior construction materials in the troop berthing spaces and engineering areas throughout the large assault ship hull.

Iwo Jima Class Steam Plant Asbestos

Iwo Jima class LPHs incorporated asbestos throughout their B&W boiler and Westinghouse turbine propulsion:

• Babcock & Wilcox boiler casing insulation — the two Babcock & Wilcox boilers aboard Iwo Jima class LPHs incorporated asbestos-containing insulation on boiler casings and steam drum surfaces consistent with the early 1960s boiler construction specifications. Boilermen performing boiler maintenance in Iwo Jima class firerooms worked in proximity to the asbestos-containing boiler insulation throughout their engineering watch assignments
• Steam main pipe insulation — the steam mains connecting Iwo Jima class boilers to the Westinghouse single-shaft main propulsion turbine incorporated asbestos-containing pipe insulation. Engineering ratings working in Iwo Jima class engine rooms accumulated background asbestos exposure from the steam main pipe insulation
• Westinghouse propulsion turbine insulation — the Westinghouse single-shaft geared steam turbine aboard Iwo Jima class LPHs incorporated asbestos-containing turbine casing insulation. Machinist’s Mates performing turbine maintenance in Iwo Jima class engine rooms worked in proximity to turbine casing insulation

Iwo Jima Class Interior Construction Asbestos

Iwo Jima class LPHs incorporated early 1960s construction materials in troop and crew spaces:

• Troop berthing space construction — the troop berthing spaces accommodating embarked Marines aboard Iwo Jima class LPHs were constructed within the hull using interior construction materials consistent with the early 1960s construction specifications. Marines and ship’s company personnel living in Iwo Jima class troop and crew berthing spaces accumulated background asbestos exposure from the hull construction materials throughout their LPH deployments
• Below-deck crew and working space construction — the crew berthing areas, engineering spaces, and working compartments throughout the Iwo Jima class hull incorporated asbestos-containing construction materials in the overhead, bulkheads, and piping of below-deck spaces consistent with the early 1960s naval construction specifications

VA Claims for Iwo Jima 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. Machinist’s Mates, Boilermen, and crew members who served aboard Iwo Jima class helicopter assault ships 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.