USS Texas (CGN-39) — Asbestos in the Virginia Class Nuclear Cruiser

USS Texas (CGN-39), second ship of the Virginia class nuclear-powered guided missile cruisers, was commissioned September 10, 1977 at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company (Newport News, Virginia). Texas was powered by two D2G naval reactors providing steam to main propulsion turbines and auxiliary systems. The Virginia class nuclear cruisers — USS Virginia (CGN-38), Texas (CGN-39), Mississippi (CGN-40), and Arkansas (CGN-41) — were designed as improved successors to the California class, providing the Navy with nuclear-powered carrier battle group escorts for carrier strike group operations throughout the Cold War. Texas served homeported at NS Norfolk before decommissioning in 1993.

Nuclear Plant Secondary Systems and Asbestos

USS Texas’s nuclear propulsion plant secondary steam systems used some asbestos-containing materials from the transitional construction period:

• Secondary steam loop piping insulation — the steam secondary systems from Texas’s reactor plant to the main propulsion turbines used insulated steam piping throughout the engineering spaces. Texas was commissioned in 1977 at the late period of the Navy’s asbestos phase-down; some areas of the secondary steam piping may have retained asbestos-containing insulation from construction, while newer construction areas used substitute insulation materials
• Propulsion turbine insulation — Texas’s main propulsion turbines and associated steam systems used thermal insulation appropriate to the mid-1970s construction period, with transitional-era specifications during the Navy’s shift away from asbestos insulation
• Auxiliary machinery spaces — Texas’s auxiliary machinery spaces and hotel load steam systems used steam distribution piping throughout the vessel; engineering ratings working in these spaces were in proximity to piping insulation systems from the mid-1970s construction era

Virginia Class Construction and Interior

Texas’s 1977 commissioning placed it at the Navy’s transitional asbestos phase-down period:

• Interior compartment construction — Texas’s crew berthing, CIC, and working spaces used interior construction materials from the mid-1970s era; while the Navy’s asbestos phase-down was underway, some areas of the ship’s 1977 construction may have used asbestos-containing interior products where the phase-down had not yet been fully implemented
• Gasketing and packing — valve and pump gasketing throughout Texas’s propulsion and auxiliary systems may have included asbestos-containing compressed fiber gasket materials at some connections, particularly in high-temperature portions of the secondary steam system

Cold War Carrier Escort Operations

Texas conducted carrier escort operations throughout Cold War:

• Texas served as carrier battle group escort for Atlantic Fleet carrier operations, deploying on Mediterranean and carrier escort assignments with engineering crew members operating in the ship’s nuclear engineering spaces throughout these deployments

VA Claims for USS Texas Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure aboard nuclear surface combatants. Engineering ratings and crew members who served aboard USS Texas (CGN-39) and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.

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.