Wickes Class Destroyer (DD-75) and Clemson Class — Asbestos in WWI Four-Pipe Destroyers

The Wickes class (DD-75 series, 111 destroyers) and Clemson class (DD-186 series, 156 destroyers) four-stack destroyers — commonly called “four-pipers” or “flush-deckers” — were built in massive quantities during 1917–1922 for WWI and postwar service, representing the US Navy’s largest destroyer-building program through that era. Built at Bath Iron Works, Bethlehem Steel Fore River, William Cramp, and other yards, these 1,200-ton flush-deck destroyers were powered by twin Westinghouse or Curtis steam turbines driven by four White-Forster or Yarrow boilers. The four boiler uptakes gave the class their distinctive four-stack profile. Many four-pipers were decommissioned during the 1920s-1930s and reactivated for WWII service. Fifty were transferred to Britain under the Destroyers for Bases Agreement of September 1940. Surviving four-pipers served WWII in converted roles as destroyer-minesweepers (DMS), seaplane tenders (AVD), fast transports (APD), and high-speed minesweepers. Their WWI-era and interwar steam plants accumulated decades of asbestos insulation on boilers, steam mains, and turbine systems throughout their service.

Four-Boiler Steam Plant and Asbestos

Wickes/Clemson class steam plants used asbestos throughout:

• Four White-Forster boiler installation — the four White-Forster or Yarrow boilers of Wickes and Clemson class destroyers — arranged in four boiler rooms, one per boiler — used asbestos block insulation on boiler casings and asbestos pipe covering on the steam main lines connecting the boiler rooms to the turbine rooms. The four-boiler arrangement of these flush-deck destroyers created four separate asbestos-insulated boiler spaces that Boiler Tender ratings maintained throughout WWI, interwar, and WWII service
• Westinghouse or Curtis steam turbines — the twin Westinghouse or Curtis geared steam turbines driving the twin screws through reduction gears used asbestos insulation on turbine casings and asbestos pipe covering on the high-pressure steam supply piping throughout the turbine rooms
• Accumulated decades of boiler maintenance — four-pipers that served from WWI through WWII accumulated 20–25 years of asbestos exposure through continuous boiler maintenance, lagging repair, and steam system maintenance in their engineering spaces

WWII Converted Roles and Asbestos

Conversion work added additional asbestos exposure:

• Fast transport (APD) conversion — Wickes and Clemson class destroyers converted to fast transports (APD) for WWII amphibious operations retained the four-piper boiler and turbine plant with its accumulated asbestos insulation while adding troop berthing in the former forward boiler room spaces, creating new asbestos exposure pathways from the construction activities in the converted accommodation spaces

VA Claims for Four-Piper Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure aboard Navy destroyers. Engineering ratings who served aboard Wickes or Clemson class destroyers — in any configuration including DMS, AVD, or APD conversions — 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.