USS Springfield is documented in the public U.S. Navy asbestos litigation record. A verified equipment manifest with 12 machinery and manufacturer entries is published on her ship-specific page: Springfield CLG-7 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.

Cleveland-Class light cruiser — 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 — Cleveland-Class light cruiser

The Cleveland-class was a light cruiser class built for the United States Navy during World War II, with 52 ships ordered and 36 completed (27 as cruisers and 9 converted to Independence-class light aircraft carriers). Designed with increased cruising range, anti-aircraft armament, and torpedo protection compared to earlier U.S. cruisers, they served primarily in the Pacific Fleet and survived the war intact. Most were decommissioned by 1950, though six were converted into guided missile cruisers and served into the 1970s, with USS Little Rock remaining as a museum ship.

Class Overview

Total Ships in Class
36
Construction Era
1942-1945
Service Era
1942-1979

Class Mission & Role

Light cruisers designed to provide anti-aircraft defense and fire support for the U.S. Navy's Fast Carrier Task Force during World War II.

Class Combat Operations

  • World War II Pacific Theater
  • World War II Atlantic Theater

Asbestos Materials in this Class

Standard pre-1980 U.S. Navy construction included asbestos in pipe lagging, boiler insulation, gaskets, and habitability spaces.

VA Benefits for USS Springfield Asbestos Exposure Veterans

USS Springfield Asbestos Exposure 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. Veterans who served in engineering, hull maintenance, or damage control ratings aboard this vessel during the asbestos era may qualify based on the documented Navy-wide construction material standards.

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

Documented asbestos records derived from publicly filed asbestos litigation addressing Navy vessels of this construction era. 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 Springfield

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.