USS Belknap (CG-26) — Asbestos Aboard the Lead Belknap Class Guided Missile Cruiser

USS Belknap (DLG-26, redesignated CG-26 in 1975), lead ship of the Belknap class guided missile cruisers, was commissioned at Bath Iron Works in November 1964. Belknap class cruisers carried one Terrier/Standard missile system aft and ASROC antisubmarine rockets forward, combined with a 5-inch gun battery, providing both anti-air and antisubmarine warfare capability. Belknap’s conventional steam propulsion plant — two boilers and two sets of De Laval geared turbines — provided propulsion through her service. The ship suffered a catastrophic collision with USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) in November 1975 that caused a devastating fire, killing eight sailors and requiring three years of major repair at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Commissioned in 1964 during the peak asbestos use period, Belknap incorporated extensive asbestos-containing boiler insulation, steam pipe insulation, turbine insulation, and hull construction materials consistent with mid-1960s naval construction specifications.

USS Belknap Steam Plant Asbestos

Belknap’s two-boiler steam plant incorporated extensive asbestos throughout:

• Boiler insulation — Belknap’s boilers were insulated with asbestos-containing boiler casing insulation and steam drum insulation consistent with mid-1960s naval construction specifications. Boilermen working in Belknap’s firerooms accumulated asbestos exposure from the boiler insulation throughout her service
• High-pressure steam main pipe insulation — the high-pressure steam mains throughout Belknap’s engineering spaces incorporated asbestos-containing pipe insulation consistent with 1964 naval construction specifications. Engineering ratings working in Belknap’s machinery spaces encountered steam main insulation during normal operations and maintenance
• De Laval main propulsion turbine insulation — Belknap’s De Laval main propulsion turbines incorporated asbestos-containing turbine casing insulation. Machinist’s Mates performing turbine maintenance worked in proximity to asbestos-containing turbine insulation
• Post-1978 repaired steam plant — following the 1975 collision and subsequent repair at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, the repaired steam plant components retained or replaced asbestos-containing insulation materials consistent with the late 1970s repair specifications and the continuing use of the original mid-1960s steam plant design

USS Belknap Hull and Combat Systems Asbestos

Belknap’s construction incorporated asbestos throughout:

• Original hull construction — Belknap’s crew berthing and working spaces were constructed using mid-1960s naval construction specifications incorporating asbestos-containing floor tile, overhead insulation, and bulkhead construction materials
• Rebuilt superstructure from 1978 repair — following the 1975 collision, Belknap’s rebuilt steel superstructure used construction materials from the 1976–1978 repair period at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, incorporating construction materials of the late 1970s transitional construction period

VA Claims for USS Belknap Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy cruiser steam plant service. Machinist’s Mates, Boilermen, and crew members who served aboard USS Belknap 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.