USS Constellation (CV-64) — Asbestos Aboard the Kitty Hawk Class Carrier

USS Constellation (CV-64), lead ship of the Kitty Hawk class aircraft carriers, was commissioned at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in October 1961 following a serious fire during construction in 1960 that killed 50 workers and delayed her commissioning. Constellation served in the Pacific Fleet throughout her career, deploying to the Western Pacific for Vietnam War combat operations beginning in 1964 and conducting strikes against North Vietnam during multiple Westpac deployments. Constellation operated the full range of Cold War carrier air wing aircraft — F-4 Phantoms, A-6 Intruders, A-7 Corsairs, F-14 Tomcats, and F/A-18 Hornets — through her service until decommissioning in 2003. Constellation’s conventional steam propulsion plant — eight Babcock & Wilcox boilers and four sets of Westinghouse geared turbines — powered the carrier through her 42-year service. Commissioned in 1961 at the peak of asbestos use in naval construction, Constellation incorporated extensive asbestos-containing boiler insulation, steam pipe insulation, turbine insulation, and hull construction materials throughout her engineering spaces consistent with early 1960s naval construction specifications.

USS Constellation Steam Plant Asbestos

Constellation’s eight-boiler steam plant incorporated extensive asbestos throughout:

• Babcock & Wilcox boiler insulation — Constellation’s eight Babcock & Wilcox boilers were insulated with asbestos-containing boiler casing insulation, steam drum insulation, and firebox refractory materials consistent with early 1960s naval construction specifications. Boilermen working in Constellation’s eight firerooms accumulated asbestos exposure from the boiler insulation throughout her 42-year service life
• High-pressure steam main pipe insulation — the high-pressure steam mains throughout Constellation’s engineering spaces incorporated asbestos-containing pipe insulation consistent with 1961 naval construction specifications. Engineering ratings working in Constellation’s machinery spaces encountered steam main insulation throughout the propulsion plant during operations and maintenance
• Main propulsion turbine insulation — Constellation’s four Westinghouse main propulsion turbine sets incorporated asbestos-containing turbine casing insulation consistent with early 1960s construction. Machinist’s Mates performing turbine maintenance worked in proximity to asbestos-containing turbine insulation throughout her service
• Steam catapult and aviation support systems — the steam catapult systems and aviation support steam distribution systems aboard Constellation incorporated asbestos-containing pipe insulation and valve packing throughout the aviation support steam system serving aviation operations throughout the ship

USS Constellation Hull Construction Asbestos

Constellation’s early 1960s construction incorporated asbestos throughout:

• Crew berthing and living spaces — Constellation’s interior crew spaces were constructed using early 1960s naval construction specifications incorporating asbestos-containing floor tile, overhead insulation, and bulkhead construction materials throughout the hull
• Aviation and hangar deck spaces — Constellation’s hangar deck, aviation fuel systems, and aviation support spaces incorporated asbestos-containing construction materials consistent with early 1960s naval construction specifications at the peak asbestos use period

VA Claims for USS Constellation Veterans

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