USS Obannon (DD-450) is documented in the public U.S. Navy asbestos litigation record. A verified equipment manifest with 21 machinery and manufacturer entries is published on her ship-specific page: Obannon DD-450 Equipment Manifest ›.

The standard asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of this era, the Navy ratings most exposed during normal duty, and the VA asbestos-claims framework are listed below.

Fletcher-Class destroyer — Class Background

Ship-specific service history is not available for this vessel in public records. The class-level information below applies to all ships in her class. Source: Wikipedia — Fletcher-Class destroyer

The Fletcher class was a class of 175 destroyers built by the United States during World War II, designed in 1939 to address dissatisfaction with earlier destroyer types and commissioned between 1942 and 1944. These ships featured five 5-inch guns and ten 21-inch torpedo tubes, performed every assigned destroyer mission from antisubmarine to surface warfare, and served almost exclusively in the Pacific Theater during World War II, where they sank 29 Japanese submarines. After the war, some Fletcher-class destroyers continued service into the Korean War and Vietnam War, while others were sold to former adversary nations including Italy, Germany, and Japan.

Class Overview

Total Ships in Class
175
Construction Era
1942-1944
Service Era
World War II through Vietnam War

Class Mission & Role

General-purpose destroyers designed to perform antisubmarine warfare, antiaircraft defense, surface combat, and fleet support across long-range Pacific operations.

Primary Builders

  • Multiple U.S. shipyards across the country

Class Combat Operations

  • World War II Pacific Theater
  • Korean War
  • Vietnam War

Asbestos Materials in this Class

The article does not document specific asbestos use in Fletcher-class destroyers. However, standard pre-1980 U.S. Navy construction included asbestos in pipe lagging, boiler insulation, gaskets, and habitability spaces.

VA Benefits for USS O’Bannon DD-450 Fletcher-Class Destroyer: Navy Asbestos Exposure & Veteran Legal rights (DD-450) Veterans

USS O’Bannon DD-450 Fletcher-Class Destroyer: Navy Asbestos Exposure & Veteran Legal rights (DD-450) veterans with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, or pleural disease may qualify for VA disability compensation when evidence shows in-service asbestos exposure, a current diagnosis, and a medical link between them.

Free, confidential case evaluation: Speak with O’Brien Law Firm — (314) 936-2956

Documented asbestos records derived from publicly filed asbestos litigation addressing the Fletcher class of destroyers. This does not constitute legal or medical advice.

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 O'Bannon

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.