Sacramento Class Fast Combat Support Ship (AOE-1) — Asbestos in the Carrier Battle Group Replenishment Ship

The Sacramento class fast combat support ships — four ships commissioned between 1964 and 1970, designated AOE-1 through AOE-4 — were the United States Navy’s first fast combat support ships capable of replenishing carrier battle groups at speeds matching the battle group’s transit speed. The Sacramento class combined fuel, ammunition, and stores replenishment capability in a single large ship, capable of transferring fuel oil, aviation gasoline, ammunition, and dry stores to carrier battle group ships simultaneously during underway replenishment. The Sacramento class used two sets of General Electric steam turbines powered by four Foster Wheeler boilers to achieve the 26-knot speed required for carrier battle group compatibility. Built during the mid-1960s, Sacramento class fast combat support ships incorporated asbestos-containing boiler insulation and steam plant pipe insulation throughout their four-boiler propulsion plants consistent with the mid-1960s construction specifications, creating background asbestos exposure for engineering ratings who maintained Sacramento class steam plants throughout Cold War carrier battle group replenishment operations.

Sacramento Class Four-Boiler Steam Plant Asbestos

Sacramento class AOEs incorporated asbestos throughout their Foster Wheeler and GE propulsion arrangement:

• Foster Wheeler boiler casing and drum insulation — the four Foster Wheeler boilers aboard Sacramento class ships incorporated asbestos-containing insulation on the boiler casings and steam drum surfaces consistent with the mid-1960s boiler construction specifications. Boilermen maintaining Foster Wheeler boilers in Sacramento class firerooms worked in proximity to the asbestos-containing boiler casing insulation throughout their fireroom watch assignments
• High-pressure steam main pipe insulation — the high-pressure steam mains connecting Sacramento class boilers to the main propulsion turbines incorporated asbestos-containing pipe insulation consistent with the high-pressure steam plant construction of the mid-1960s. Engineering ratings working in Sacramento class engine rooms accumulated background asbestos exposure from the steam main pipe insulation during engineering watch standing
• General Electric main propulsion turbine insulation — the General Electric main propulsion turbine sets aboard Sacramento class AOEs incorporated asbestos-containing insulation on turbine casing and steam chest surfaces consistent with the mid-1960s turbine construction specifications. Machinist’s Mates performing turbine maintenance in Sacramento class engine rooms worked in proximity to the turbine casing insulation during maintenance operations
• Cargo and replenishment system piping insulation — the extensive fuel transfer piping, aviation fuel distribution piping, and cargo handling systems throughout the Sacramento class hull for underway replenishment operations incorporated pipe insulation on heated fuel lines and steam-traced piping consistent with the mid-1960s construction specifications

VA Claims for Sacramento Class Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy replenishment ship service. Machinist’s Mates, Boilermen, and crew members who served aboard Sacramento class fast combat support ships 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.