USS Independence (CV-62) — Asbestos Aboard the Forrestal Class Carrier

USS Independence (CV-62), fourth and final ship of the Forrestal class aircraft carriers, was commissioned at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in January 1959. Independence served in both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets during her career, deploying to the Mediterranean with the Sixth Fleet and to the Western Pacific for Vietnam War combat operations — conducting strikes against North Vietnam during multiple Westpac deployments from 1965 onward. Independence also conducted operations in the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf. Independence’s conventional steam propulsion plant — eight Babcock & Wilcox boilers and four sets of Westinghouse geared turbines — provided propulsion throughout her 34-year service until her decommissioning in 1998. Commissioned in 1959 at the peak of asbestos use in naval construction, Independence incorporated extensive asbestos-containing boiler insulation, steam pipe insulation, turbine insulation, and hull construction materials throughout her engineering spaces and habitability spaces consistent with late 1950s naval construction specifications.

USS Independence Steam Plant Asbestos

Independence’s eight-boiler steam plant incorporated extensive asbestos throughout:

• Babcock & Wilcox boiler insulation — Independence’s eight Babcock & Wilcox boilers were insulated with asbestos-containing boiler casing insulation, steam drum insulation, and firebox refractory materials consistent with late 1950s naval construction specifications. Boilermen working in Independence’s eight firerooms accumulated asbestos exposure from the boiler insulation throughout her service life
• High-pressure steam main pipe insulation — the high-pressure steam mains throughout Independence’s engineering spaces incorporated asbestos-containing pipe insulation consistent with 1959 naval construction specifications. Engineering ratings working in Independence’s machinery spaces encountered steam main insulation throughout the propulsion plant during normal operations and maintenance
• Main propulsion turbine insulation — Independence’s four Westinghouse main propulsion turbine sets incorporated asbestos-containing turbine casing insulation consistent with late 1950s construction specifications. Machinist’s Mates performing turbine maintenance worked in proximity to asbestos-containing turbine insulation
• Catapult and aviation support steam systems — Independence’s steam catapult accumulators and the extensive steam system supporting aviation operations — including aviation fuel heating and steam-powered aviation support equipment — incorporated asbestos-containing pipe insulation and valve packing throughout the aviation support steam distribution system

USS Independence Hull Construction Asbestos

Independence’s 1959 construction incorporated asbestos throughout:

• Crew berthing and living spaces — Independence’s crew berthing areas were constructed using 1959 naval construction specifications incorporating asbestos-containing floor tile, overhead insulation, and bulkhead construction materials throughout the hull
• Flight deck and aviation spaces — Independence’s flight deck infrastructure, hangar deck, and aviation support spaces incorporated asbestos-containing construction materials consistent with 1959 naval construction specifications

VA Claims for USS Independence Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy carrier steam plant service. Machinist’s Mates, Boilermen, and crew members who served aboard USS Independence and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.

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.