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.

Spruance-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 — Spruance-Class destroyer

The Spruance-class destroyer was the primary destroyer built for the United States Navy during the 1970s and 1980s, designed to replace World War II-era destroyer classes. Introduced in 1975, the class featured innovative gas-turbine propulsion, a flight deck and hangar for up to two helicopters, and all-digital weapons systems optimized for anti-submarine warfare. The Navy decommissioned the last ship in 2005, with the class eventually succeeded by the more capable and cost-efficient Arleigh Burke-class destroyer.

Class Overview

Total Ships in Class
31
Construction Era
1970s-1980s
Service Era
1975-2005

Class Mission & Role

Primary destroyer class designed to escort carrier groups and conduct anti-submarine warfare, later upgraded with land-attack cruise missile capabilities.

Primary Builders

  • Litton-Ingalls shipyard (Pascagoula, Mississippi)

Class Combat Operations

  • Operation Desert Storm

Asbestos Materials in this Class

The article does not document asbestos use in the Spruance class. Standard pre-1980 U.S. Navy construction included asbestos in pipe lagging, boiler insulation, gaskets, and habitability spaces.

VA Benefits for USS O’Brien (DD-975) Veterans

USS O’Brien (DD-975) 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 Spruance 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'Brien

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.