USS Essex (LHD-2), a Wasp class amphibious assault ship, was commissioned at Ingalls Shipbuilding in October 1992 and served in the Pacific Fleet as the flagship of Amphibious Ready Groups. Essex deployed throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans, supporting Marine Expeditionary Unit operations, humanitarian missions, and exercises with Pacific Rim allies. Essex’s conventional steam propulsion plant — two boilers driving geared steam turbines — provided propulsion for the 40,532-ton ship through her service. Commissioned in 1992, Essex incorporated boiler insulation, steam pipe insulation, and hull construction materials consistent with the early 1990s construction period.

USS Essex Steam Plant and Construction Asbestos

Essex’s large steam propulsion plant and hull construction incorporated asbestos exposure sources:

  • Boiler insulation — Essex’s boilers were insulated with boiler casing insulation consistent with early 1990s construction specifications. Engineering ratings maintained and operated Essex’s boilers through her Pacific Fleet service
  • High-pressure steam pipe insulation — the steam mains and auxiliary steam piping throughout Essex’s engineering spaces incorporated pipe insulation consistent with early 1990s naval construction specifications, which according to publicly filed litigation records may have included residual asbestos-containing materials
  • Troop berthing, well deck, hangar deck, and auxiliary spaces — Essex’s troop berthing areas, aviation hangar deck, vehicle well deck, and the extensive auxiliary spaces of the LHD design were constructed using the hull construction materials of the early 1990s building period

VA Claims for USS Essex Veterans

VA evaluates asbestos-related disability claims on a case-by-case basis. Veterans generally need evidence of in-service asbestos exposure, a current asbestos-related diagnosis, and a medical link between them. Machinist’s Mates, Boilermen, aviation ratings, Marine Corps personnel, and crew members who served aboard USS Essex 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 Essex

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 Disability Claims for Asbestos-Related Disease

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs evaluates asbestos claims individually. A veteran generally needs medical evidence of a current asbestos-related disease, service evidence supporting in-service asbestos exposure, and a medical opinion connecting the two. Ship assignments, Navy ratings, and equipment records can help document the exposure history but do not create automatic service connection.

Approved claims may provide monthly disability compensation and related benefits. Survivors may separately qualify for Dependency & Indemnity Compensation when the applicable requirements are met. Civil lawsuits and asbestos-trust claims use different standards; claimants should obtain individualized advice about how the processes interact.

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.