Portland class heavy cruisers — USS Portland (CA-33) and USS Indianapolis (CA-35), commissioned 1933–1934 — were purpose-built Treaty heavy cruisers serving as major surface combatants in the WWII Pacific campaign. Built at Bethlehem Steel Quincy and New York Shipbuilding respectively, Portland class ships were powered by eight Babcock & Wilcox boilers driving four sets of Parsons geared steam turbines. USS Portland served through WWII Pacific operations including Coral Sea, Midway, Guadalcanal, and various island campaign operations. USS Indianapolis delivered the atomic bomb components to Tinian in July 1945 before being sunk by Japanese submarine I-58 on July 30, 1945 — the worst single-ship loss of life in US Navy history.

Interwar and WWII Steam Plant and Asbestos

Portland class heavy cruisers used steam propulsion with standard interwar-era asbestos insulation:

  • Main boiler insulation — the eight Babcock & Wilcox boilers in Portland class cruisers used asbestos block insulation on boiler casings and asbestos refractory in the firebox construction. Boiler Tender ratings (the WWII-era predecessor to the Boiler Technician rating) maintaining these boilers worked in direct proximity to asbestos-insulated boiler surfaces in the cruiser’s engineering spaces
  • Main steam piping insulation — the main steam system piping from eight boilers to four turbine sets throughout these 610-foot cruisers was insulated with asbestos pipe covering from the original interwar construction. Engineering ratings maintaining steam system components worked in the cruiser’s fire rooms and engine rooms in proximity to asbestos-insulated main steam piping
  • Turbine insulation — the main propulsion turbines and reduction gear sets in Portland class ships used asbestos-containing thermal insulation lagging consistent with interwar cruiser construction specifications

1930s Era Interior Construction

Portland class ships were built with 1930s-era materials throughout:

  • The crew berthing, mess spaces, and working areas throughout these interwar cruisers used construction materials from the 1930s including asbestos-containing deck products, overhead insulation, and bulkhead construction that remained present throughout the ships’ WWII service

VA Claims for Portland Class Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure aboard Navy heavy cruisers. Engineering ratings and crew members who served aboard USS Portland (CA-33) or USS Indianapolis (CA-35) 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 Portland Class (CA)

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.