US Navy Motor Torpedo Boats (PT boats) — primarily the Elco 80-foot design (PT-103 through PT-796 series) and the Higgins 78-foot design (PT-625 through PT-797 series) — were fast attack craft powered by three Packard W-2500 gasoline aircraft engines producing up to 4,500 horsepower combined. Built at Elco Naval Division (Electric Launch Company, Bayonne, New Jersey) and Higgins Industries (New Orleans, Louisiana), PT boats served extensively in the Pacific theater — particularly in the Solomon Islands and Philippines campaigns — and in the Mediterranean theater. PT boats and their ten-man crews operated from advanced bases performing night torpedo attacks, anti-barge operations, and coastal patrol. PT-109, commanded by Lieutenant John F. Kennedy, was among the Elco-built PT boats serving in the Solomon Islands campaign. Despite their wooden construction, PT boats used asbestos-containing materials in their gasoline engine exhaust systems and in mechanical system components.

Gasoline Engine Exhaust System Asbestos

PT boat propulsion systems used asbestos in exhaust applications:

  • Packard engine exhaust manifold insulation — the three Packard W-2500 gasoline engines used asbestos-containing exhaust manifold wrapping and exhaust pipe insulation to manage the heat of the high-performance aircraft engines in the confined PT boat engine room. Motor Machinist’s Mates maintaining these engines worked in the confined engine compartments in proximity to asbestos-wrapped exhaust components during engine maintenance operations
  • Exhaust system heat shields and insulation — the exhaust system routing from the Packard engines through the PT boat hull used asbestos-containing materials for heat shielding the high-temperature exhaust components from the adjacent wooden hull structure, with engineering ratings working around these asbestos heat shield materials during engine room access and maintenance

Interior Mechanical System Asbestos

PT boat mechanical systems used asbestos-containing materials:

  • Engine room gaskets and mechanical systems — the fuel system, water cooling system, and oil system components in PT boat engine rooms used asbestos-containing gasket materials in pipe and fitting connections consistent with gasoline engine construction practices of the WWII era

VA Claims for PT Boat 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. PT boat engineering personnel who performed engine maintenance 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 PT Boats (MTB)

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.