USS Kidd (DDG-993), the lead ship of the Kidd class guided missile destroyers, was commissioned at Ingalls Shipbuilding in June 1981 and served in both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets. Originally ordered by Iran before the 1979 revolution, Kidd and her three sisters were acquired by the US Navy and became some of the most capable surface combatants of the early 1980s, combining the Spruance class hull with Standard SM-2 missile systems and advanced electronics. Kidd’s propulsion plant — four General Electric LM2500 gas turbines driving two shafts — provided propulsion through her service. Commissioned in 1981, Kidd incorporated asbestos-containing insulation and hull construction materials consistent with the early 1980s Spruance-hull building specifications.

USS Kidd Propulsion Plant and Construction Asbestos

Kidd’s gas turbine propulsion plant and hull construction incorporated asbestos:

  • Gas turbine enclosure and exhaust insulation — Kidd’s LM2500 gas turbine engine enclosures, exhaust trunking, and associated high-temperature insulation incorporated asbestos-containing materials consistent with early 1980s naval construction specifications, which according to publicly filed litigation records included asbestos-containing thermal insulation
  • Auxiliary steam and machinery spaces — Kidd’s auxiliary boilers, steam services plant, and machinery space insulation incorporated asbestos-containing materials consistent with early 1980s Spruance-hull specifications
  • Hull construction materials — Kidd’s crew berthing, combat information center, and weapons spaces were constructed using hull construction materials of the early 1980s building program incorporating asbestos-containing materials

VA Claims for USS Kidd 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, Gas Turbine System Technicians, Fire Control Technicians, and crew members who served aboard USS Kidd 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 Kidd

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.