USS Fort McHenry (LSD-43), a Whidbey Island class dock landing ship, was commissioned at Avondale Shipyard in August 1987 and served in the Pacific Fleet. Fort McHenry transported and landed US Marine Corps air cushion landing craft through her LCAC-capable well deck, supporting amphibious operations throughout the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean regions. Fort McHenry deployed to the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm and participated in numerous Western Pacific exercises. Fort McHenry’s diesel propulsion plant — four Colt Industries diesels driving two shafts — provided propulsion through her service. Commissioned in 1987, Fort McHenry incorporated asbestos-containing insulation and hull construction materials consistent with late 1980s construction specifications.

USS Fort McHenry Propulsion Plant and Construction Asbestos

Fort McHenry’s diesel propulsion plant and hull construction incorporated asbestos:

  • Diesel engine and exhaust insulation — Fort McHenry’s diesel engine spaces, exhaust systems, and associated machinery incorporated insulation materials consistent with late 1980s naval construction specifications, which according to publicly filed litigation records included asbestos-containing thermal insulation
  • Auxiliary machinery spaces — Fort McHenry’s auxiliary machinery rooms and support systems incorporated insulation consistent with late 1980s shipbuilding specifications
  • Well deck, troop berthing, and auxiliary spaces — Fort McHenry’s large LCAC well deck, Marine troop berthing spaces, and auxiliary spaces were constructed using hull construction materials of the late 1980s building period

VA Claims for USS Fort McHenry Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy dock landing ship service. Machinist’s Mates, Enginemen, Marine Corps personnel, and crew members who served aboard USS Fort McHenry 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 Fort McHenry

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 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.