USS Coral Sea (CV-43) — Asbestos Aboard the Midway Class Carrier

USS Coral Sea (CV-43), third and final ship of the Midway class aircraft carriers, was commissioned at Newport News Shipbuilding in October 1947 after the end of World War II, entering service as a post-war carrier that would go on to serve through the Cold War, the Vietnam War, and into the 1980s. Coral Sea was known as the “Ageless Warrior” for her long service life and the variety of air wings and aircraft she operated — from WWII-era propeller aircraft through Korean War jets to Cold War F-4 Phantoms, A-6 Intruders, and A-7 Corsairs. Coral Sea conducted multiple Vietnam War combat deployments, launching strikes against North Vietnam during Rolling Thunder and Linebacker operations. She underwent a smaller modernization than USS Midway, retaining more of her original hull configuration while still receiving an angled flight deck and other Cold War upgrades. Coral Sea’s steam propulsion plant — twelve Babcock & Wilcox boilers and Westinghouse geared turbines — powered her from her 1947 commissioning through her 1990 decommissioning, with the WWII-era and early Cold War steam plant asbestos construction maintained through her service life.

USS Coral Sea Steam Plant Asbestos

Coral Sea’s twelve-boiler steam plant incorporated asbestos throughout:

• Babcock & Wilcox boiler insulation — Coral Sea’s twelve Babcock & Wilcox boilers were insulated with asbestos-containing boiler casing insulation and steam drum insulation from her WWII-era construction. Boilermen working in Coral Sea’s firerooms accumulated asbestos exposure from the original boiler insulation maintained through Cold War refits and modernizations
• High-pressure steam main pipe insulation — the high-pressure steam mains throughout Coral Sea’s engineering spaces incorporated asbestos-containing pipe insulation from construction. Engineering ratings working in Coral Sea’s machinery spaces encountered steam main insulation throughout the propulsion plant during normal operations and maintenance
• Main propulsion turbine insulation — Coral Sea’s Westinghouse main propulsion turbine sets incorporated asbestos-containing turbine casing insulation. Machinist’s Mates performing turbine maintenance in Coral Sea’s machinery rooms worked in proximity to asbestos-containing turbine insulation
• Auxiliary steam system insulation — Coral Sea’s extensive auxiliary steam system serving steam-powered equipment throughout the ship incorporated asbestos-containing pipe insulation at auxiliary steam lines and connections throughout her machinery spaces

USS Coral Sea Hull Construction Asbestos

Coral Sea’s post-WWII construction incorporated asbestos throughout:

• Crew berthing and living spaces — Coral Sea’s interior crew spaces were constructed using late 1940s naval construction specifications incorporating asbestos-containing floor tile, overhead insulation, and bulkhead construction materials. Her crew of over 4,000 officers and enlisted men lived and worked in spaces with asbestos-containing construction throughout the hull
• Aviation hangar and flight operations spaces — Coral Sea’s hangar deck, aviation fuel systems, and aviation support spaces were constructed using late 1940s naval construction specifications incorporating asbestos-containing materials in the aviation support infrastructure

VA Claims for USS Coral Sea 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 Coral Sea 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.