USS Wasp (CV-7) was a Yorktown-class aircraft carrier commissioned in April 1940 at the Bethlehem Steel shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts. Wasp was a modified, slightly smaller version of the Yorktown-class design and served in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters before being struck by three Type-95 torpedoes from the Japanese submarine I-19 on September 15, 1942, off Guadalcanal, and sinking with the loss of 173 crew members. Despite her short service life of approximately two and a half years, Wasp’s 1940 construction incorporated asbestos insulation throughout her steam plant, engineering systems, and interior spaces consistent with pre-WWII naval construction standards.

1940-Era Steam Plant Asbestos

Wasp’s 1940 construction used asbestos insulation throughout her engineering plant:

  • Boiler plant — Wasp’s eight Babcock & Wilcox boilers used asbestos lagging on exterior surfaces, asbestos refractory brick in combustion chambers, and asbestos sealing materials throughout the boiler plant in the 1940 construction. The pre-WWII construction era specified asbestos as the standard boiler insulation material
  • Main steam piping — the main steam distribution piping from Wasp’s firerooms to propulsion turbines and auxiliary steam loads used asbestos magnesia pipe covering throughout the steam distribution system in the 1940-era engineering plant construction
  • Engineering auxiliaries — Wasp’s steam-driven auxiliary machinery used asbestos-containing gasket and packing materials as standard components in the rotating equipment maintenance cycle

Crew Service and Asbestos Exposure

Wasp’s crew occupied the ship’s asbestos-containing spaces throughout her service:

  • Wasp’s complement of approximately 2,100 personnel occupied the carrier’s engineering and accommodation spaces — both containing asbestos-containing materials — throughout the ship’s service from commissioning through her loss in combat. Engineering ratings in particular worked in sustained proximity to the asbestos-insulated boilers and steam piping in the firerooms and enginerooms

Historical Note

USS Wasp is one of several WWII carriers whose veterans may qualify for VA asbestos claims even given the ship’s loss in 1942:

  • Veterans who served aboard USS Wasp prior to her sinking and survived to discharge, who have since developed mesothelioma or asbestos-related disease, accumulated their exposure from the ship’s asbestos-containing engineering plant during the months of Wasp’s commissioned service

VA Claims for USS Wasp CV-7 Veterans

VA evaluates asbestos-related disability claims on a case-by-case basis. Veterans generally need evidence of in-service asbestos exposure, a current asbestos-related diagnosis, and a medical link between them. Engineering ratings and crew members who served aboard USS Wasp (CV-7) 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 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.