USS Austin (LPD-4), the lead ship of the Austin class amphibious transport dock ships, was commissioned at New York Shipbuilding Corporation in February 1965 and served in the Atlantic Fleet throughout her Cold War career. Austin deployed to the Mediterranean with the Sixth Fleet and participated in Caribbean and Atlantic Fleet amphibious operations, transporting Marines and their equipment in her well deck and troop berthing. Austin’s steam propulsion plant — two boilers driving geared steam turbines — provided propulsion through her service. Commissioned in 1965, Austin incorporated asbestos-containing boiler insulation, steam pipe insulation, turbine insulation, and hull construction materials consistent with the mid-1960s construction period in her engineering spaces, troop berthing, and the extensive auxiliary spaces of the LPD design.

USS Austin Steam Plant and Construction Asbestos

Austin’s steam propulsion plant and hull construction incorporated asbestos throughout:

  • Boiler insulation — Austin’s boilers were insulated with asbestos-containing boiler casing insulation consistent with mid-1960s construction specifications. Engineering ratings accumulated asbestos exposure from the boiler insulation through her Atlantic Fleet service
  • High-pressure steam pipe insulation — the steam mains and auxiliary steam piping throughout Austin’s engineering spaces incorporated asbestos-containing pipe insulation consistent with mid-1960s naval construction specifications
  • Troop berthing, well deck, and auxiliary spaces — Austin’s troop berthing areas, vehicle well deck, and the extensive auxiliary engineering and support spaces characteristic of the LPD design were constructed using the hull construction materials of the mid-1960s building period incorporating asbestos-containing materials

VA Claims for USS Austin Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy amphibious transport dock service. Machinist’s Mates, Boilermen, Marine Corps personnel, and crew members who served aboard USS Austin 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 Austin

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.