USS Hawes (FFG-53), an Oliver Hazard Perry class guided missile frigate, was commissioned at Bath Iron Works in February 1985 and served in the Atlantic Fleet throughout her career. Hawes deployed to the Mediterranean with the Sixth Fleet and participated in Persian Gulf operations, conducting maritime interception operations during the Tanker War period. Hawes’ all-gas-turbine propulsion plant — two General Electric LM2500 gas turbines driving a single controllable pitch propeller — provided propulsion through her service. Built at Bath Iron Works in 1983–1985, Hawes incorporated hull construction materials and gas turbine exhaust system insulation consistent with the mid-1980s construction period.

USS Hawes Gas Turbine and Construction Asbestos

Hawes’ gas turbine propulsion plant and hull construction:

  • Gas turbine exhaust system insulation — the gas turbine exhaust ducting and uptake systems aboard Hawes carrying high-temperature exhaust from the two LM2500 gas turbines incorporated thermal insulation materials consistent with mid-1980s naval construction specifications
  • Gas turbine module enclosures — the acoustic and thermal enclosures surrounding Hawes’ LM2500 gas turbine modules incorporated insulation materials consistent with Bath Iron Works’ 1983–1985 construction specifications
  • Hull construction materials — Hawes’ crew berthing, combat systems spaces, and working areas were constructed using the hull construction materials of the 1983–1985 building period at Bath Iron Works

VA Claims for USS Hawes Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy frigate service. Officers and crew members who served aboard USS Hawes 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 Hawes

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.