Porter class fleet destroyers — 8 ships (USS Porter DD-356 through USS Selfridge DD-357, USS McDougal DD-358, USS Winslow DD-359, USS Phelps DD-360, USS Clark DD-361, USS Moffett DD-362, USS Balch DD-363, commissioned 1936–1937) — were large destroyer flotilla leader designs built at New York Shipbuilding and Bethlehem Steel. Porter class ships were among the largest destroyers of the 1930s US Navy, designed with heavier torpedo and gun armament for flotilla leader roles. These ships were powered by high-pressure Yarrow boilers driving Parsons geared turbines producing 50,000 shaft horsepower. USS Porter (DD-356) was sunk in October 1942 by a friendly torpedo during the Battle of Santa Cruz, and USS Selfridge (DD-357) had her bow blown off by a Japanese torpedo at the Battle of Vella Lavella in 1943. As with all Navy destroyers of the era, asbestos insulation was used throughout the engineering spaces of these ships.

High-Pressure Steam Plant and Asbestos

Porter class destroyers used high-pressure steam propulsion with asbestos throughout:

  • Main boiler insulation — the Yarrow boilers used asbestos block insulation on boiler casings and asbestos-containing refractory in firebox construction from original commissioning. Firemen and Boiler Tender ratings in the fire rooms worked in direct proximity to asbestos-insulated boiler surfaces during Pacific operations
  • Main steam piping — the high-pressure main steam piping used asbestos pipe covering throughout the engineering spaces. Engineering ratings were in proximity to asbestos-insulated steam piping during watch-standing in the engine rooms
  • Parsons turbine insulation — the Parsons geared turbine installations used asbestos-containing thermal insulation on turbine casing surfaces in the destroyer engine room spaces

WWII Pacific Operations

Porter class ships served in major Pacific operations:

  • These large destroyers participated in Pacific fleet operations including the Battle of Santa Cruz and Solomons campaign, with engineering crew members serving continuous watches in the confined, asbestos-insulated engineering spaces throughout wartime deployments

VA Claims for Porter 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. Engineering ratings who served aboard Porter class destroyers 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 Porter 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.