Raleigh Class Amphibious Transport Dock (LPD-1) — Asbestos in the Cold War Dock Landing Ship

The Raleigh class amphibious transport docks — USS Raleigh (LPD-1) commissioned 1962 and USS Vancouver (LPD-2) commissioned 1963 — were the United States Navy’s first purpose-built amphibious transport dock ships, combining helicopter assault capability with a well deck for embarking and launching landing craft. Built at the New York Naval Shipyard in Brooklyn, Raleigh class LPDs used two Babcock & Wilcox boilers providing steam to a single set of De Laval geared steam turbines on a single shaft. The Raleigh class established the LPD concept that would be developed through the subsequent Austin class (LPD-4 through LPD-15), the larger San Antonio class (LPD-17 and subsequent), and other amphibious transport dock designs. Raleigh class LPDs incorporated asbestos-containing boiler insulation and steam plant pipe insulation throughout their propulsion plants consistent with the early 1960s construction specifications, and incorporated asbestos-containing interior construction materials in the troop berthing, well deck, and crew spaces of the amphibious transport dock hull.

Raleigh Class Steam Plant Asbestos

Raleigh class LPDs incorporated asbestos throughout their B&W boiler and De Laval turbine propulsion:

• Babcock & Wilcox boiler insulation — the two Babcock & Wilcox boilers aboard Raleigh class LPDs incorporated asbestos-containing insulation on boiler casings and steam drum surfaces consistent with the early 1960s boiler construction specifications. Boilermen performing boiler maintenance in Raleigh class firerooms worked in proximity to the asbestos-containing boiler insulation throughout their engineering watch assignments
• Steam main and auxiliary steam pipe insulation — the steam main piping and auxiliary steam distribution piping throughout Raleigh class engineering spaces incorporated asbestos-containing pipe insulation consistent with the early 1960s steam plant construction specifications
• De Laval main propulsion turbine insulation — the De Laval geared steam turbine aboard Raleigh class LPDs incorporated asbestos-containing turbine casing insulation. Machinist’s Mates performing turbine maintenance in Raleigh class engine rooms worked in proximity to turbine casing insulation

Raleigh Class Hull and Well Deck Construction Asbestos

Raleigh class LPDs incorporated early 1960s interior construction materials:

• Well deck and landing craft area construction — the well deck area of Raleigh class LPDs for launching and recovering landing craft was constructed within the hull using construction materials consistent with the early 1960s construction specifications. Ship’s company and Marines working in Raleigh class well deck areas accumulated background asbestos exposure from the hull construction materials in the well deck
• Troop berthing and crew space construction — the troop berthing spaces and crew living areas within the Raleigh class hull incorporated asbestos-containing construction materials consistent with the early 1960s construction period

VA Claims for Raleigh Class Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy amphibious transport dock service. Machinist’s Mates, Boilermen, and crew members who served aboard Raleigh class amphibious transport docks and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.

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.