USS Leahy (CG-16) — Asbestos Aboard the Lead Leahy Class Guided Missile Cruiser

USS Leahy (DLG-16, redesignated CG-16 in 1975), lead ship of the Leahy class guided missile cruisers, was commissioned at Bath Iron Works in August 1962. Leahy class cruisers were the first purpose-built guided missile cruisers in the United States Navy, designed with a full suite of Terrier surface-to-air missiles fore and aft providing comprehensive anti-air warfare coverage for carrier battle groups. Leahy’s conventional steam propulsion plant — four boilers and two sets of De Laval geared turbines driving two shafts — provided propulsion through her Cold War service. Commissioned in 1962 at the peak of asbestos use in naval construction, Leahy incorporated extensive asbestos-containing boiler insulation, steam pipe insulation, turbine insulation, and hull construction materials consistent with early 1960s naval construction specifications.

USS Leahy Steam Plant Asbestos

Leahy’s four-boiler steam plant incorporated extensive asbestos throughout:

• Boiler insulation — Leahy’s boilers were insulated with asbestos-containing boiler casing insulation and steam drum insulation consistent with early 1960s naval construction specifications. Boilermen working in Leahy’s firerooms accumulated asbestos exposure from the boiler insulation throughout her Cold War service
• High-pressure steam main pipe insulation — the high-pressure steam mains throughout Leahy’s engineering spaces incorporated asbestos-containing pipe insulation consistent with 1962 naval construction specifications. Engineering ratings working in Leahy’s machinery spaces encountered steam main insulation during normal operations and maintenance
• De Laval main propulsion turbine insulation — Leahy’s De Laval main propulsion turbines incorporated asbestos-containing turbine casing insulation. Machinist’s Mates performing turbine maintenance worked in proximity to asbestos-containing turbine insulation
• Terrier missile magazine and handling spaces — the Terrier surface-to-air missile magazines and below-deck missile handling spaces fore and aft aboard Leahy were constructed using early 1960s naval construction specifications incorporating asbestos-containing construction materials in the missile system spaces

USS Leahy Hull Construction Asbestos

Leahy’s early 1960s construction incorporated asbestos throughout:

• Crew berthing and working spaces — Leahy’s interior crew berthing areas and working spaces were constructed using early 1960s naval construction specifications incorporating asbestos-containing floor tile, overhead insulation, and bulkhead construction materials
• CIC and combat systems spaces — the Combat Information Center and combat systems equipment spaces aboard Leahy were constructed using early 1960s naval construction specifications incorporating asbestos-containing construction materials in the electronic equipment spaces

VA Claims for USS Leahy Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy cruiser steam plant service. Machinist’s Mates, Boilermen, and crew members who served aboard USS Leahy 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.