Kidd Class (DDG-993) — Asbestos in the Iranian Shah Destroyers

The Kidd class guided missile destroyers — four ships commissioned in 1981 and 1982, designated DDG-993 through DDG-996 — were originally ordered by the Imperial Iranian Navy under the Shah of Iran as an enhanced Spruance-based destroyer with more capable anti-air warfare systems, but the 1979 Iranian Revolution left the ships under construction without a buyer. The United States Navy acquired the four hulls at favorable terms as their own DDG-class destroyers. Built on the Spruance class hull with the same four General Electric LM2500 gas turbine engines, Kidd class destroyers added the Mk 26 guided missile launching system, Standard SM-2 missiles, and enhanced anti-air warfare fire control systems compared to the baseline Spruance ASW design, producing a destroyer with both anti-submarine and anti-air warfare capability. Kidd class destroyers were built at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and were later transferred to the Republic of China Navy (Taiwan) in 2005–2006. Built during 1979–1982, Kidd class destroyers incorporated hull construction materials and gas turbine exhaust system insulation consistent with the early 1980s construction specifications.

Kidd Class Gas Turbine and Engineering System Asbestos

Kidd class destroyers incorporated asbestos in gas turbine-related systems:

• Gas turbine exhaust system insulation — the gas turbine exhaust ducting and uptake systems aboard Kidd class destroyers incorporating thermal insulation materials consistent with the early 1980s construction specifications. Engineering ratings working in Kidd class engineering spaces accumulated background asbestos exposure from any asbestos-containing exhaust system insulation in the propulsion plant
• Gas turbine module enclosure insulation — the acoustic and thermal enclosures surrounding the LM2500 gas turbine modules aboard Kidd class destroyers incorporated insulation materials consistent with the early 1980s construction practice. Engineering ratings performing gas turbine maintenance and module access work encountered module enclosure insulation materials
• Auxiliary system construction — the auxiliary machinery spaces and engineering support areas aboard Kidd class destroyers were constructed using the construction materials and specifications of the 1981–1982 completion period

Kidd Class Hull Construction Asbestos

Kidd class destroyers’ early 1980s construction incorporated hull construction materials:

• Crew and working space construction — Kidd class crew berthing, wardroom, and working spaces were constructed using the hull construction materials of the early 1980s building period. The extent of asbestos-containing materials in Kidd class interior construction reflects the construction practices transitioning away from asbestos at the time of construction
• Combat systems and weapons spaces — the combat information center, missile magazine spaces, and anti-air warfare fire control spaces aboard Kidd class destroyers incorporated construction materials consistent with early 1980s naval construction specifications

VA Claims for Kidd Class Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy destroyer service. Officers and crew members who served aboard Kidd class destroyers 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.