The Neosho class (AO-143) fleet oilers — USS Neosho (AO-143), USS Mississinewa (AO-144), and USS Hassayampa (AO-145), commissioned 1954-1955 at Bethlehem Steel’s Sparrows Point Shipyard — provided underway replenishment of fuel oil, aviation fuel, and lubricating oil to Atlantic and Pacific Fleet carrier battle groups. Fleet oilers (AO class) conducted underway replenishment operations at sea, passing fuel lines to carriers and escorts while both ships were underway — a continuous operational requirement for sustained carrier battle group operations throughout the Cold War. Neosho class ships served until the early 1980s, when they were replaced by the Cimarron class (AO-177) and later Henry J. Kaiser class (T-AO-187) vessels.

Engineering Plant and Asbestos

Neosho class fleet oilers used steam propulsion consistent with early 1950s naval construction:

  • Boiler room fire rooms — the main propulsion boilers in Neosho class fire rooms used asbestos insulation on boiler casings, steam drum exterior, superheater headers, and associated boiler setting materials. Boiler Technicians standing fire room watches in Neosho class oilers were in the boiler room environment with asbestos-insulated boiler equipment throughout underway periods
  • Main steam piping — high-pressure superheated steam piping from fire rooms to engine rooms used asbestos pipe covering throughout the main steam system in 1954-era construction
  • Engine room turbine insulation — main propulsion turbine casings had asbestos insulation on turbine casing external surfaces in the engine rooms

Cargo Pump Room and Fuel Systems

Neosho class oilers transferred fuel oil, AVGAS, and JP-5 aviation fuel through cargo pump systems:

  • Cargo pump room environment — the cargo pump rooms housing the fuel transfer pumps and associated piping had asbestos insulation on steam-driven pump casings and on the steam supply piping to steam-driven cargo pumps. Machinist’s Mates assigned to cargo pump room watches and maintenance were in cargo pump spaces with asbestos-insulated pump and piping equipment
  • Cargo piping systems — fuel oil and aviation fuel piping throughout the ship used asbestos-containing gaskets at flanged connections in the cargo piping system
  • Heating systems for viscous fuel — heavy fuel oil heating systems maintaining fuel oil viscosity for pumping used asbestos-insulated steam heating piping in the fuel heating circuit

Underway Replenishment Operations

Neosho class oilers conducted UNREP operations in all weather conditions throughout their service:

  • Machinist’s Mates, Boiler Technicians, and Engineering ratings maintained elevated propulsion power during UNREP approach and station-keeping alongside carriers and escorts, standing engineering watches in the fire rooms and engine rooms throughout UNREP operations

VA Claims for AO Fleet Oiler Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure aboard Navy auxiliary vessels. Engineering ratings who served aboard Neosho class and other fleet oilers built before the mid-1970s asbestos phase-down 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 Neosho Class

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.