USS Wasp (CV-18), an Essex class aircraft carrier commissioned November 24, 1943 at the Bethlehem Steel Fore River Shipyard (Quincy, Massachusetts), served in the WWII Pacific campaign and continued in postwar service through the Cold War era in ASW carrier (CVS) and recovery ship roles — serving as primary recovery ship for the Mercury Atlas 7 (Scott Carpenter, 1962) and Gemini 3 (1965) space missions. Wasp was powered by nine Babcock & Wilcox boilers driving four sets of Westinghouse geared turbines producing 150,000 shaft horsepower. Wasp underwent SCB-27A and SCB-125 modernization upgrades during the Korean War era that extended her service life through 1972 decommissioning.

Essex Class Steam Plant and Asbestos

USS Wasp’s nine-boiler fleet carrier steam plant used asbestos throughout:

  • Main boiler insulation — Wasp’s nine Babcock & Wilcox boilers used asbestos block insulation on boiler casings and asbestos-containing refractory in firebox construction from the original 1943 commissioning. Boiler Technician ratings maintaining Wasp’s boilers during her nearly thirty-year service worked in proximity to asbestos-insulated boiler surfaces throughout WWII, Korean War, and Cold War service periods
  • Main steam system pipe insulation — the main steam piping from nine boilers through the carrier’s machinery spaces used asbestos pipe covering from the original 1943 construction. Engineering ratings in the fire rooms and engine rooms were in continuous proximity to asbestos-insulated steam piping throughout Wasp’s extended service life
  • Turbine insulation — Wasp’s Westinghouse geared turbines and reduction gear sets used asbestos-containing thermal insulation lagging throughout the ship’s service life

Extended Cold War Service

USS Wasp’s long service created extended asbestos exposure periods:

  • Wasp’s service from 1943 through 1972 — including the SCB-27A modernization in 1951 — meant crew members through the 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s were serving aboard a ship that retained significant original 1943 asbestos construction in non-modernized sections, while the modernized sections received additional Cold War-era construction materials
  • Wasp’s role as space mission recovery ship brought her into public prominence, with the engineering crew maintaining her steam plant throughout these high-profile recovery operations in the 1960s

VA Claims for USS Wasp (CV-18) Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure aboard Navy fleet carriers. Engineering ratings and crew members who served aboard USS Wasp (CV-18) during any period of her service from 1943 through 1972 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 Wasp

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.