PC-173 class patrol craft — 342 ships commissioned 1941–1944 — were the primary US Navy coastal anti-submarine patrol and escort vessels during WWII, providing protection for coastal shipping against German U-boat attack in the critical Battle of the Atlantic period of 1942–1943 and serving in amphibious escort and patrol roles in both Atlantic and Pacific theaters. Built at Defoe Shipbuilding (Bay City, Michigan), Dravo Corporation (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), and numerous other yards, PC class vessels were approximately 173 feet in length and displaced 280 tons. PC vessels used diesel propulsion — typically two diesel engines on twin screws — with an auxiliary diesel generator for electrical power. The crews of these small patrol vessels — typically about 65 men — lived and worked in close quarters throughout the confined hull.

Diesel Engineering and Asbestos

PC class patrol craft used diesel propulsion with asbestos-containing auxiliary systems:

  • Diesel engine exhaust and auxiliary insulation — the diesel engine exhaust manifolds and associated high-temperature components in PC class engineering spaces used asbestos-containing thermal insulation for heat reduction in the confined machinery spaces. Enginemen maintaining the diesel propulsion plant worked in proximity to asbestos-insulated engine components in the patrol craft’s small below-deck machinery spaces
  • Auxiliary steam and heating systems — the steam-heated auxiliary systems in PC class patrol craft — crew heating systems and fuel heating — used asbestos-insulated steam or hot water distribution piping in the confined below-deck spaces. Engineering personnel maintaining these auxiliary heating systems worked with asbestos-insulated piping and fittings
  • Gaskets and packing materials — the engine gaskets, exhaust manifold gaskets, and valve packing throughout PC class diesel and auxiliary systems used asbestos-containing materials for high-temperature sealing in the diesel propulsion and auxiliary systems

Small Vessel Confined Interior Construction

PC class patrol craft had highly confined interior spaces:

  • These 173-foot patrol craft had limited interior space below decks, with crew berthing, engineering spaces, and working areas in close proximity throughout the confined hull. The interior construction of these wartime-built patrol craft used WWII construction materials throughout the crew spaces, with asbestos-containing products in the deck and interior construction of the small vessel

VA Claims for PC Class Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure aboard Navy patrol vessels. Engineering ratings and crew members who served aboard PC class patrol craft during WWII 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 Patrol Craft (PC)

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.