USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20), a Blue Ridge class amphibious command ship, was commissioned at Newport News Shipbuilding in January 1971 and has served as the flagship of the US Sixth Fleet, homeported in Gaeta, Italy, for much of her career. Mount Whitney participated in Cold War naval operations in the Mediterranean and has served as the primary command platform for US naval forces in Europe and Africa. Mount Whitney’s steam propulsion plant — two boilers driving geared steam turbines — provided propulsion through her long service. Commissioned in 1971, Mount Whitney incorporated asbestos-containing boiler insulation, steam pipe insulation, turbine insulation, and hull construction materials consistent with the early 1970s construction period.

USS Mount Whitney Steam Plant and Construction Asbestos

Mount Whitney’s steam propulsion plant and hull construction incorporated asbestos throughout:

  • Boiler insulation — Mount Whitney’s boilers were insulated with asbestos-containing boiler casing insulation consistent with early 1970s construction specifications. Engineering ratings accumulated asbestos exposure maintaining Mount Whitney’s steam plant through her decades of service in the Mediterranean
  • High-pressure steam pipe insulation — the steam mains and auxiliary steam piping throughout Mount Whitney’s engineering spaces incorporated asbestos-containing pipe insulation consistent with early 1970s naval construction specifications
  • Propulsion turbine insulation — Mount Whitney’s main propulsion turbines incorporated asbestos-containing turbine casing insulation consistent with early 1970s specifications
  • Command spaces and crew berthing — Mount Whitney’s command and communications spaces, flag spaces, and crew berthing areas were constructed using hull construction materials of the early 1970s building period incorporating asbestos-containing materials

VA Claims for USS Mount Whitney 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, Boilermen, radiomen, communications technicians, and crew members who served aboard USS Mount Whitney 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 Mount Whitney

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.