The Wichita class consisted of six replenishment oilers (AOR-1 through AOR-6) commissioned between 1969 and 1975 at General Dynamics and Puget Sound Naval Shipyard to provide underway replenishment of fuel oil, aviation gasoline, ammunition, and limited provisions to carrier battle group combatants at sea. The lead ship, USS Wichita (AOR-1), was commissioned in 1969. These 659-foot replenishment ships used steam turbine propulsion with asbestos-containing engineering plant insulation consistent with the late-1960s and early 1970s construction standards.

Steam Plant Asbestos

Wichita-class ships used steam turbine propulsion with asbestos insulation:

  • Boiler plant — the boilers aboard Wichita-class ships used asbestos-containing boiler lagging on exterior surfaces and asbestos refractory brick in combustion chambers in the 1969-1975 construction period, which preceded the complete phase-down of asbestos in Navy boiler construction specifications. BT ratings maintaining the Wichita-class boiler plant performed lagging and refractory maintenance in the engineering spaces
  • Main steam piping — the main steam distribution piping in the Wichita-class engineering plant used asbestos-containing pipe covering on hot steam lines consistent with the late-1960s naval construction specifications that still specified asbestos pipe covering for Navy steam plant piping
  • Cargo transfer steam systems — the fuel oil transfer systems and aviation fuel transfer systems serving the Wichita-class replenishment mission used steam-driven cargo pumps with asbestos-containing gasket materials in pump maintenance and overhaul

Underway Replenishment Operations

Wichita-class ships maintained sustained underway operations with carrier battle groups:

  • AOR crew members supporting replenishment-at-sea operations maintained the ship’s steam engineering plant under continuous at-sea operating conditions during battle group replenishment assignments

VA Claims for Wichita-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 Wichita-class replenishment ships 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 Wichita-Class Replenishment Oilers (AOR)

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.