USS Currituck (AV-7) — Asbestos Aboard the Seaplane Tender

By Rights Watch Media Group LLC •June 23, 2026 • 3 min read

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USS Currituck (AV-7) was a Currituck-class seaplane tender commissioned in June 1944 at Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Chester, Pennsylvania. Built to support long-range patrol aviation, Currituck served as a mobile base for patrol flying boats and floatplanes throughout the Pacific during World War II and continued supporting Navy patrol aviation through the Cold War era, operating with the Atlantic Fleet patrol squadrons and serving in the Mediterranean supporting VP patrol squadron operations. The ship was powered by two Babcock & Wilcox boilers generating steam for Westinghouse geared turbines producing 12,000 shaft horsepower. USS Currituck’s steam propulsion plant and steam service systems — together with the aviation fuel storage and handling systems, aircraft maintenance shop machinery, and general ship systems — incorporated asbestos-containing insulation materials throughout the ship’s engineering plant and service systems. The ship served for over two decades, with engineering and aviation support ratings working in and around the asbestos-insulated systems throughout the operational service period.

Steam Propulsion Plant Asbestos

Currituck’s two-boiler steam plant incorporated asbestos insulation:

Babcock & Wilcox boiler casing insulation — the two Babcock & Wilcox boilers in Currituck’s boiler room were insulated with asbestos block insulation on the boiler casing and asbestos cloth on boiler access components. Boiler Tenders maintaining the boilers during underway steaming operations and performing boiler maintenance during inport tender support periods worked in proximity to the asbestos boiler insulation
Westinghouse turbine insulation — the Westinghouse geared steam turbines in Currituck’s engine room were insulated with asbestos block on turbine casings and asbestos lagging on associated steam piping. Machinist’s Mates tending and maintaining the turbines worked in the asbestos-insulated turbine spaces throughout the ship’s service career
Steam distribution and auxiliary systems — Currituck’s steam distribution system supplying auxiliary machinery, steam heating, and service steam throughout the ship was insulated with asbestos pipe covering throughout the distribution network

Aviation Tender Systems and Asbestos

Currituck’s seaplane support systems incorporated asbestos-containing materials:

Aviation fuel systems and storage — the aviation gasoline and aviation fuel storage tanks, piping systems, and transfer pump rooms aboard Currituck incorporated asbestos-containing gasket materials in flanged piping connections and valve packing in the fuel transfer systems. Aviation support ratings and engineering personnel maintaining the aviation fuel systems encountered asbestos packing and gasket materials during fuel system maintenance operations
Aircraft maintenance shop equipment — the machine shop and aircraft maintenance shop equipment aboard Currituck supporting seaplane maintenance used machinery with asbestos-containing friction materials, gaskets, and sealing components. Aviation Machinist’s Mates performing aircraft maintenance and repair operations in Currituck’s shops worked in proximity to asbestos-containing equipment components
Compressed air systems — the compressed air systems supporting aircraft maintenance operations and ship’s systems aboard Currituck incorporated asbestos-containing gasket and packing materials in compressor and piping system components

Interior Construction Asbestos

Currituck’s crew spaces and working areas incorporated asbestos-containing construction materials:

Crew berthing and working spaces — Currituck’s crew berthing compartments, working spaces, and officer quarters incorporated asbestos-containing floor tile and pipe insulation in the 1944-era construction consistent with WWII Navy construction specifications

VA Claims for USS Currituck Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure aboard Navy tenders and auxiliary vessels. Boiler Tenders, Machinist’s Mates, and crew members who served aboard USS Currituck (AV-7) and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.

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 Currituck

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:

Boilerman (BT) — boiler-room operations, refractory work, burner maintenance
Machinist’s Mate (MM) — main propulsion turbines, reduction gears, condensers, pumps
Engineman (EN) — auxiliary diesel and gasoline engines, gland packing
Electrician’s Mate (EM) — cable runs through asbestos-insulated chases, motor-generator sets
Hull Maintenance Technician (HT) / Pipefitter — piping system maintenance, gasket replacement, valve repacking
Damage Controlman (DC) — firefighting equipment, fire-stops, bulkhead penetrations
Fireman (FN) — engineering-plant tending across boiler and engine rooms

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.

Documented Asbestos-Exposure Environments — U.S. Navy Service

Public-domain U.S. Navy photographs illustrating the engineering spaces, ratings, and yard environments where asbestos materials were routinely encountered during normal duty.

Boiler Room Sailor stands watch in the aft machinery room of USS Iwo Jima. (35298984822) Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Drydock Overhaul USS Newport News (CA-148) in drydock at the Norfolk Navy Yard 1965 Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Engine Room Flickr - Official U.S. Navy Imagery - USS Sterett Sailor takes equipment readings in ship's engine room. Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Engineering Watch USS Bataan Stands Full Female Engineering Watch Team (8442031) Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

US Navy 061108-N-6652A-037 U.S. Navy Aviation Machinist's Mate 3rd Class Roy Hernandez, left, and Aviation Machinist's Mate Airman Jerry … — Machinist Mate US Navy 061108-N-6652A-037 U.S. Navy Aviation Machinist's Mate 3rd Class Roy Hernandez, left, and Aviation Machinist's Mate Airman Jerry Rivera work on a rotor … Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Navy Fireroom Fireroom aboard USS Rochester (CA-124), in 1955 Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

US Navy 080208-N-6538W-019 Civilian yard workers from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard perform maintenance on the bow catapults of the … — Shipyard Worker US Navy 080208-N-6538W-019 Civilian yard workers from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard perform maintenance on the bow catapults of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier … Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

All images are public domain (U.S. Government works). Specific photographs depict generic Navy engineering and yard environments — not the named vessel above. Asbestos materials shown or implied include pipe lagging, boiler insulation, steam-line covering, and gasket / packing materials standard on U.S. Navy vessels through the early 1980s.

USS Currituck AV-7 — Frequently Asked Questions

Are USS Currituck AV-7 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?

Yes. USS Currituck AV-7 is documented in the public U.S. Navy asbestos litigation record. U.S. Navy vessels of her service era were built to BUSHIPS specifications that required asbestos insulation throughout engineering spaces, on steam lines, around boilers and turbines, and in gasket and packing materials.

Which shipboard components on USS Currituck AV-7 contained asbestos?

Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of USS Currituck AV-7's era include: boiler insulation and lagging, steam-line pipe insulation, turbine and reduction-gear casings, valve packing, gaskets, brake and clutch friction materials, electrical wire insulation, overhead pipe coverings in berthing and mess spaces, and Navy-issue boiler cement and refractory in fireboxes.

What ratings were exposed to asbestos serving on USS Currituck AV-7?

Navy ratings with the highest documented asbestos exposure include Machinist's Mate (MM), Boiler Technician (BT), Hull Maintenance Technician (HT), Engineman (EN), Electrician's Mate (EM), Interior Communications Electrician (IC), Damage Controlman (DC), and Pipefitter / Shipfitter. Officers in engineering departments also encountered asbestos in normal duty. Shipyard workers performing overhaul, repair, or refit work had concentrated exposure during yard periods.

Do USS Currituck AV-7 veterans qualify for VA disability for mesothelioma?

Yes. Mesothelioma is recognized by the VA as service-connected for veterans with documented Navy service and qualifying asbestos exposure. USS Currituck AV-7 veterans (or surviving family) typically file at VA.gov, by phone at 1-800-827-1000, or with assistance from a Veterans Service Officer through DAV, VFW, or American Legion. Civil claims against asbestos product manufacturers are separate from VA benefits — many veterans pursue both paths.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this site. References to ships, shipyards, companies, products, and asbestos-containing materials are drawn from public VA records, NARA archives, EPA/OSHA databases, and public litigation records. All references reflect what has been documented or alleged in publicly filed records. Consult a licensed physician for medical guidance and a qualified attorney for legal advice regarding your specific situation.

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