The Newport class tank landing ships — 20 hulls (LST-1179 through LST-1198) built between 1966 and 1972 at National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO, National City, CA) and Philadelphia Naval Shipyard — were the purpose-built postwar LST design replacing the WWII-era LST-1 class tank landing ships. Newport class LSTs used a novel stern gate design with an extending ramp for beach landing operations and gas turbine bow thrusters for beachhead maneuvering, with main propulsion provided by two steam turbine plants producing 16,500 shaft horsepower on two shafts. Their steam propulsion plants required asbestos insulation in the engineering spaces consistent with 1960s naval construction specifications.

Steam Plant and Asbestos

The Newport class steam turbine plant required asbestos insulation throughout the engineering spaces:

  • Two steam boilers with asbestos block, sectional covering, and cement on boiler casings, steam drums, and superheater sections
  • Two steam turbine sets with asbestos block insulation on turbine casings and high-temperature exhaust connections
  • Main steam and auxiliary piping throughout the engineering spaces covered with asbestos block lagging
  • Auxiliary steam systems serving the ship’s hotel load and cargo handling equipment using asbestos-insulated pipe distribution

Tank Deck and Cargo Spaces

Newport class LSTs carried Marine Corps main battle tanks, amphibious assault vehicles (AAVs), and cargo vehicles on the tank deck in a configuration designed for rapid combat unloading on hostile beaches. The tank deck and vehicle storage spaces were built within the asbestos-containing hull:

  • Tank deck overhead construction above vehicle storage used asbestos-containing fireproofing in some areas of the hull construction
  • Vehicle access ramp and stern gate areas adjacent to the engineering spaces shared the general asbestos-containing hull construction

Marine and Navy Personnel Exposure

Navy crew and embarked Marine forces aboard Newport class LSTs accumulated asbestos exposure from the asbestos-containing interior construction of the ship during Cold War exercises and deployments. Newport class LSTs conducted regular amphibious training deployments with Marine battalion landing teams in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Mediterranean throughout their service lives.

VA Claims for Newport 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. Navy sailors who served in engineering billets aboard Newport class LSTs (LST-1179 through LST-1198) 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 Newport 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 Disability Claims for Asbestos-Related Disease

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs evaluates asbestos claims individually. A veteran generally needs medical evidence of a current asbestos-related disease, service evidence supporting in-service asbestos exposure, and a medical opinion connecting the two. Ship assignments, Navy ratings, and equipment records can help document the exposure history but do not create automatic service connection.

Approved claims may provide monthly disability compensation and related benefits. Survivors may separately qualify for Dependency & Indemnity Compensation when the applicable requirements are met. Civil lawsuits and asbestos-trust claims use different standards; claimants should obtain individualized advice about how the processes interact.

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.