The United States Navy’s gasoline tanker (AOG) and small tanker (AOT) force provided petroleum products — aviation gasoline, JP-5 jet fuel, diesel fuel, and Navy Special Fuel Oil — to forward-deployed naval forces, island fuel farms, and overseas naval stations throughout the Cold War. AOG and AOT tankers were smaller than the larger AO fleet oilers, designed for delivering petroleum products to locations not easily accessible to larger oilers and for providing direct product support to naval air stations and island fuel storage facilities throughout the Pacific and Atlantic theaters. Navy AOG tankers built during WWII and the early Cold War period used reciprocating steam engines or small steam turbines driving single-screw propulsion, with steam generated by two or three oil-fired boilers. The engineering spaces of AOG and AOT tankers incorporated the steam plant asbestos construction typical of WWII-era and early Cold War auxiliary vessel construction, with asbestos-containing boiler insulation, steam pipe insulation, and engineering space construction materials.

AOG and AOT Navy tankers incorporated asbestos in their steam propulsion plants:

  • Boiler insulation — the steam boilers aboard Navy AOG and AOT tankers were insulated with asbestos-containing boiler casing insulation and fireside refractory materials consistent with WWII-era and early Cold War auxiliary vessel construction specifications. Boilermen working in the firerooms of AOG and AOT tankers accumulated asbestos exposure from the boiler insulation during normal boiler operations and maintenance
  • Main propulsion steam pipe insulation — the steam mains connecting the boilers to the main propulsion engine or turbine aboard Navy AOG and AOT tankers incorporated asbestos-containing pipe insulation consistent with the construction specifications of their building period. Engineering ratings working in the machinery spaces of AOG and AOT tankers encountered steam main pipe insulation during normal operations and maintenance
  • Cargo heating steam systems — AOG and AOT tankers used steam heating systems to maintain fuel temperatures in the cargo tanks during cold weather operations and to heat viscous fuel products for pumpability. The steam heating coil systems and cargo heating distribution piping aboard AOG and AOT tankers incorporated asbestos-containing pipe insulation at the heating system distribution lines throughout the cargo tank areas

AOG and AOT tankers incorporated asbestos in hull construction:

  • Engineering space construction — the engineering spaces of Navy AOG and AOT tankers were constructed using WWII-era and early Cold War auxiliary vessel construction specifications incorporating asbestos-containing construction materials in the machinery space structure
  • Crew berthing and working spaces — the crew berthing areas and living spaces aboard AOG and AOT tankers incorporated asbestos-containing construction materials consistent with the construction specifications of their building period

VA Claims for Navy Tanker Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy auxiliary vessel steam plant service. Machinist’s Mates, Boilermen, and crew members who served aboard Navy gasoline tankers and small tankers 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 Navy AOG/AOT Tankers

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.