YMS (Yard Minesweeper, Steel Hull) vessels were small 136-ton steel-hulled coastal minesweepers built during WWII for harbor defense and coastal mine clearance operations. Over 450 YMS vessels were built at numerous small yards including Astoria Marine Construction (Astoria, Oregon), Weaver Shipyards, and other coastal and inland shipyards across the United States. YMS vessels served in both Atlantic and Pacific theaters — clearing enemy mines from harbors, anchorages, and coastal waters in advance of amphibious operations and convoy route clearance. These small mine warfare vessels were powered by two General Motors diesel engines driving twin shafts. Despite their small size, YMS vessels used asbestos-containing materials in their construction consistent with WWII-era naval construction specifications.

Diesel Machinery and Asbestos

YMS diesel propulsion systems used asbestos-containing materials:

  • Diesel engine gaskets and exhaust system — the General Motors diesel engines used asbestos-containing exhaust manifold gaskets and cylinder head gaskets in the engine assembly. Enginemen in the confined engine rooms of these small vessels performing diesel maintenance encountered asbestos-containing engine gasket materials during overhaul operations
  • Engine room pipe systems — the diesel engine cooling and exhaust systems used asbestos-containing gasket materials in pipe flange connections and asbestos pipe insulation on exhaust lines in the small engine room spaces of these 136-ton vessels

Interior Construction and Asbestos

YMS vessels used asbestos-containing construction materials throughout their small interiors:

  • Crew accommodation and working spaces — the crew berthing, wardroom, and working spaces aboard these small minesweepers used WWII-era construction materials including asbestos-containing deck tile and construction materials in the accommodation spaces of these compact vessels
  • Auxiliary system piping and gaskets — the fire main, bilge, and ship service piping systems used asbestos-containing gasket materials in pipe flange connections and asbestos rope packing in valve stem seals throughout the vessels’ service systems

WWII Mine Warfare Operations

YMS vessels served in coastal mine clearance throughout WWII:

  • YMS minesweepers served in mine clearance operations in support of every major WWII amphibious operation in both Atlantic and Pacific theaters, clearing harbors and anchorages of mines before amphibious landings and during post-combat harbor clearance operations

VA Claims for YMS Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure aboard Navy mine warfare vessels. Engineering ratings and crew members who served aboard YMS yard minesweepers 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 YMS Yard Minesweepers

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 Presumptive Benefits — No Filing Deadline

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural disease as conditions presumed to be service-connected for Navy veterans with documented asbestos exposure under 38 CFR § 3.309(d). No statute of limitations applies to VA disability compensation claims.

Available benefits may include monthly disability compensation, Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses, priority VA healthcare enrollment, and Special Monthly Compensation for severe cases. Parallel claims against the asbestos bankruptcy trust funds established by the manufacturers of these products do not reduce VA compensation.

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.