US Navy dock landing ships (LSD) provided the well deck capability that enabled amphibious forces to transport, launch, and recover landing craft and amphibious vehicles for major amphibious assault operations. LSD class vessels ranged from the WWII-era Casa Grande class (LSD-13 through LSD-20) through the Cold War Fort Fisher class (LSD-40) and Whidbey Island class (LSD-41 through LSD-48). The LSD’s large stern-gate well deck could flood to allow landing craft (LCM-6, LCM-8, LCVP) or amphibious vehicles (LVTP-7) to float in and out for launch and recovery operations. LSD vessels carried embarked US Marine Corps landing force elements in troop berthing spaces, with the LSD providing the floating base for the landing craft force during amphibious operations. WWII-era and Cold War LSD class vessels used steam turbine propulsion with asbestos-insulated boiler and steam systems, and the ships’ extensive interior spaces — troop berthing, crew berthing, and working spaces — incorporated asbestos-containing construction materials throughout.

Steam Propulsion Systems and Asbestos

LSD class steam plants incorporated asbestos insulation:

  • Steam boiler insulation in LSD propulsion systems — LSD class dock landing ships used steam turbine propulsion with Babcock & Wilcox or Foster Wheeler boilers insulated with asbestos block on boiler casings and asbestos pipe covering on steam distribution lines throughout the engineering spaces. Boiler Tender ratings maintaining LSD steam plants accumulated asbestos exposure from the installed boiler and steam system insulation
  • Turbine room steam piping — LSD propulsion turbines and reduction gears were served by steam system piping with asbestos pipe covering and asbestos gasket materials throughout the turbine rooms

Interior Construction and Asbestos

LSD class interior construction incorporated asbestos throughout:

  • Troop berthing and Marine Corps accommodations — the large troop berthing spaces aboard LSD class vessels accommodating US Marine Corps landing force elements used WWII-era and Cold War military construction with asbestos floor tile, asbestos insulation on overhead pipe runs, and asbestos-containing bulkhead construction materials in the troop berthing and mess areas. Embarked Marines and LSD crew members in troop berthing accumulated background asbestos exposure from the installed construction materials
  • Well deck and vehicle stowage spaces — the large well deck and vehicle storage areas aboard LSD class vessels were surrounded by asbestos-containing construction materials in the ship’s structural spaces, with crew members working in the well deck environment during landing craft handling operations

VA Claims for LSD Class Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure aboard Navy amphibious vessels. Engineering ratings and crew members who served aboard dock landing ships 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 LSD Dock Landing Ship

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.