USS Providence (CLG-6), originally commissioned as CL-82 (a Cleveland class light cruiser) and later converted and redesignated as a guided missile light cruiser (CLG-6) in 1959, was a former WWII Cleveland class light cruiser modified to carry the Terrier surface-to-air missile system in the forward hull with gun armament retained aft. Providence was commissioned in 1945 at Bethlehem Steel (San Francisco) and served through the Vietnam War era, homeported at NS Long Beach, California, before decommissioning in 1973. The conversion added Terrier missile guidance systems and fire control electronics while retaining the Cleveland class’s WWII-era steam propulsion plant.

Cleveland Class Steam Plant and Asbestos

USS Providence retained the WWII-era Cleveland class steam plant throughout her conversion and service life:

  • Main propulsion boilers — Providence’s original eight Babcock & Wilcox boilers (or the reduced boiler plant of later configuration) used asbestos block insulation on boiler casings and asbestos refractory in the firebox construction. Boiler Technicians performing boiler maintenance aboard Providence disturbed asbestos boiler insulation throughout the ship’s service life
  • Main steam system insulation — the high-pressure main steam piping throughout Providence’s engineering spaces used asbestos pipe covering in the original 1945 construction retained through conversion and continued service. BTs and MMs working in the engineering spaces were in continuous proximity to asbestos-insulated steam piping
  • Turbine and reduction gear insulation — the four main propulsion turbines used asbestos-containing insulation consistent with WWII-era Cleveland class construction

Guided Missile Conversion Equipment

The CLG conversion added electronic equipment to the WWII hull:

  • Terrier missile guidance equipment spaces — the new electronic spaces added during CLG conversion were built into the existing WWII hull structure, with the conversion adding modern electronics equipment to spaces that retained the original WWII-era asbestos-containing construction in adjacent areas

VA Claims for USS Providence Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure aboard WWII-era and converted guided missile cruisers. Engineering ratings and crew members who served aboard USS Providence (CLG-6) 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 Providence

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 Presumptive Benefits — No Filing Deadline

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural disease as conditions presumed to be service-connected for Navy veterans with documented asbestos exposure under 38 CFR § 3.309(d). No statute of limitations applies to VA disability compensation claims.

Available benefits may include monthly disability compensation, Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses, priority VA healthcare enrollment, and Special Monthly Compensation for severe cases. Parallel claims against the asbestos bankruptcy trust funds established by the manufacturers of these products do not reduce VA compensation.

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.