USS Truxtun (DLGN-35, reclassified CGN-35 in 1975), a nuclear-powered guided missile destroyer leader commissioned May 27, 1967 at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation (Camden, New Jersey), was the third US Navy nuclear-powered surface combatant and was designed to operate as an escort for the nuclear carrier USS Enterprise (CVN-65) in an all-nuclear battle group. Truxtun was powered by two D4G naval reactors developed by General Electric and Westinghouse providing steam to the ship’s propulsion turbines and auxiliary systems. Homeported at NS San Diego, Truxtun served through Vietnam War era operations and Cold War carrier escort duties before decommissioning in 1995.

Nuclear Plant Secondary System and Asbestos

USS Truxtun’s nuclear propulsion plant used asbestos in the steam secondary systems:

  • Secondary steam system insulation — the steam secondary loop from Truxtun’s reactor systems to the main propulsion turbines used asbestos-insulated steam piping throughout the engineering spaces. Nuclear-trained Machinist’s Mates maintaining Truxtun’s secondary steam system worked in proximity to asbestos-insulated steam distribution piping in the ship’s nuclear engineering compartments
  • Propulsion turbine insulation — Truxtun’s main propulsion turbines and associated steam systems used asbestos-containing insulation consistent with 1967 naval construction specifications
  • Auxiliary steam systems — Truxtun’s hotel load steam systems serving crew spaces and ship services used insulated steam distribution piping throughout the vessel, with asbestos insulation on piping in the auxiliary machinery spaces

1960s Construction Era Materials

Truxtun’s 1967 construction used asbestos-containing building materials throughout:

  • Interior construction — the crew berthing, working spaces, and electronic equipment spaces throughout Truxtun’s 1967-commissioned hull used interior construction materials consistent with the mid-1960s construction era when asbestos-containing products remained standard naval construction components
  • Gaskets and packing — the valve and pump gasketing throughout Truxtun’s propulsion and auxiliary systems used asbestos-containing compressed fiber gaskets for high-temperature steam system sealing

Carrier Escort Operations

Truxtun operated as carrier escort with USS Enterprise:

  • Truxtun participated in the historic all-nuclear task force exercises with USS Enterprise, USS Long Beach, and USS Bainbridge, and conducted extended carrier escort operations in the Western Pacific during the Vietnam War era, with crew members in the ship’s engineering spaces throughout these extended deployments

VA Claims for USS Truxtun 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 Truxtun (DLGN-35/CGN-35) 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 Truxtun

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.