USS Harold E. Holt (FF-1074) is documented in the public U.S. Navy asbestos litigation record. A ship-specific BUSHIPS equipment manifest has not yet been published for this vessel in our records.
The standard asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of this era, the Navy ratings most exposed during normal duty, and the VA asbestos-claims framework are listed below and apply to any sailor who served in an engineering, hull, or damage-control rate aboard a Navy ship of this period.
📝 Researching this vessel? Browse our › complete catalogue of verified ship equipment manifests — 651 vessels with documented BUSHIPS machinery and manufacturer attribution.
Knox-Class frigate — Class Background
Ship-specific service history is not available for this vessel in public records. The class-level information below applies to all ships in her class. Source: Wikipedia — Knox-Class frigate
The Knox class comprised 46 frigates that served as the U.S. Navy's largest and most numerous second-generation anti-submarine warfare escorts, featuring advanced bow-mounted sonar and steam turbine propulsion. Originally commissioned as destroyer escorts between 1969 and 1974, they were redesignated as frigates in 1975 and retired from active U.S. Navy service by 1994 due to high operating costs and the need for more advanced capabilities. Several Knox-class ships were transferred to foreign navies including Spain, Taiwan, Egypt, Thailand, and Mexico, where some remained in service beyond their U.S. retirement.
Class Overview
- Total Ships in Class
- 46
- Construction Era
- 1965-1974
- Service Era
- 1969-1994 (U.S. Navy); some remain in service with foreign nations
Class Mission & Role
Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) escorts designed to detect and engage submarines using advanced sonar and ASROC missiles.
Primary Builders
- Todd Shipyards (Seattle, Washington)
- Avondale Shipyards
Asbestos Materials in this Class
Standard pre-1980 U.S. Navy construction included asbestos in pipe lagging, boiler insulation, gaskets, and habitability spaces. Knox-class ships, powered by steam turbines with high-pressure boilers, would have contained asbestos insulation in their propulsion systems and throughout the vessel.
VA Benefits for USS Harold (FF-1074) Veterans
USS Harold (FF-1074) veterans with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, or pleural disease may qualify for VA disability compensation when evidence shows in-service asbestos exposure, a current diagnosis, and a medical link between them. Knox-class frigate veterans who served in engineering, hull, or damage-control ratings may qualify based on the named-vessel documentation and the class’s steam propulsion asbestos exposure pathway.
Free, confidential case evaluation: Speak with O’Brien Law Firm — (314) 936-2956
Documented asbestos records derived from publicly filed asbestos litigation addressing the Knox class of frigates. This does not constitute legal or medical advice.
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.
Navy Ratings Most Exposed to Asbestos Aboard Harold
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.
