USS Long Beach (CGN-9), commissioned September 9, 1961 at Bethlehem Steel (Quincy, Massachusetts), was the world’s first nuclear-powered surface combatant and the only nuclear-powered cruiser built specifically as a cruiser (rather than converted). Powered by two Westinghouse C1W pressurized water reactors driving two shaft geared steam turbines, USS Long Beach was homeported at NS Long Beach, California, and served until decommissioning in 1995. The ship was built alongside the nuclear carrier Enterprise as part of Operation Sea Orbit (1964), the first circumnavigation by an all-nuclear task force.

C1W Nuclear Steam Plant and Asbestos

USS Long Beach’s C1W nuclear plant used asbestos-containing materials in the steam distribution system:

  • Main steam system insulation — the high-pressure steam piping from Long Beach’s C1W reactor steam generators through the main propulsion turbines used asbestos pipe covering and insulation in the 1961 original construction. Machinist’s Mates maintaining the steam plant in Long Beach’s engineering spaces worked continuously in proximity to asbestos-insulated piping throughout the cruiser’s operational life
  • Turbine thermal insulation — the main propulsion turbines and ship’s service turbine generators used asbestos-containing insulation lagging consistent with early-1960s nuclear cruiser construction specifications
  • Engineering space thermal insulation — the bulkhead and overhead insulation in Long Beach’s engineering spaces used asbestos-containing materials throughout the original hull construction, creating secondary exposure for engineering personnel working in these spaces

Ship Construction and Asbestos Throughout

USS Long Beach’s 1961 construction used the standard asbestos-containing materials of that era:

  • Accommodation and operational space construction — the berthing, mess, and operational spaces throughout Long Beach used asbestos floor tile, ceiling tile, and bulkhead insulation consistent with early-1960s naval construction
  • Superstructure construction — the distinctive “billboard” SCANFAR radar superstructure and ship’s island used asbestos-containing materials in structural fireproofing and superstructure construction

Nuclear Task Force Operations

USS Long Beach participated in historic nuclear surface force operations:

  • Operation Sea Orbit (1964): Long Beach, Enterprise (CVN-65), and Bainbridge (DLGN-25) circumnavigated the globe without refueling, with crews living continuously in the ships’ asbestos-containing interiors during the 65-day cruise
  • Extended deployments in the Pacific and Western Pacific through the 1960s and 1970s with crews spending sustained periods in the cruiser’s asbestos-containing spaces

VA Claims for USS Long Beach 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. Engineering ratings and crew members who served aboard USS Long Beach (CGN-9) 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 Long Beach

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.