Shipyard, deployment, and service events for this vessel documented in the public record — court filings, the ship’s deck logs, or the crew’s own cruise book (each entry cites its source). Dry-dockings, overhauls, and yard periods were when asbestos insulation was torn out and replaced, the peak-exposure work for the crew and yard workers aboard.
1945
Mooring / movement — Moored/underway, per the ship's deck log.
1946
Mooring / movement — Moored/underway, per the ship's deck log.
1956
Mooring / movement — Moored/underway, per the ship's deck log.
1957
Mooring / movement — Moored/underway, per the ship's deck log.
Derived from publicly filed asbestos-litigation records, ship’s deck logs, and the crew’s own cruise books. Historical service events; this does not constitute legal or medical advice.
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USS Brownson (DD-868) in the Atlantic 1964Source: Wikimedia Commons — public domain (U.S. Navy photograph)
Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Brownson (DD-868) was a Gearing-class destroyer commissioned in November 1945 and served throughout the Cold War with the Atlantic and Mediterranean fleets, including participation in Operation Highjump in Antarctic waters and the Cuban Missile Crisis. The ship underwent significant modernization including FRAM I upgrades and advanced sonar installations while based at Newport, Rhode Island, and conducted deployments to the Far East and Vietnam before being decommissioned in September 1976.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Staten Island, New York
Laid down
1945-02-13
Launched
1945-07-07
Commissioned
1945-11-17
Decommissioned
1976-09-30
Notable Tours / Service Eras
Atlantic and Caribbean operations 1945-1946
Operation Highjump Antarctic 1946-1947
Mediterranean with 6th Fleet 1948-1955
Far East with 7th Fleet 1954-1955
Cuban Missile Crisis operations 1962
Vietnam War operations 1966-1967
NATO operations Mediterranean 1972
Home Ports & Forward Bases
Bath, Maine — reduced operational status 1945-1946
Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island — home port 1947-1955
Boston Naval Shipyard — major overhaul base
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
Boston Naval Shipyard· 1949-1950 extensive modernization
Boston Naval Shipyard· 1951 repairs and modernization
Boston Naval Shipyard· 1962-1963 FRAM I modification
Boston Naval Shipyard· 1967 sonar dome and sonar receiver installation
Boston Naval Shipyard· 1971 NIXIE anti-torpedo system installation
Asbestos rip-out, insulation replacement, and gasket-packing work occurred during these yard periods. Sailors aboard during overhauls had peak exposure to airborne asbestos fiber.
Notable Incidents
8 November 1950 collision with USS Charles H. Roan during night operations off Bermuda
Final Disposition
scrapped — sold for scrap 10 June 1977
Read the video transcript
Did you serve aboard the USS Brownson? This destroyer carried asbestos in nearly every compartment. Here is where it was, and who is responsible. The USS Brownson, hull number DD-868, was a destroyer, built by Bethlehem Steel Corporation and commissioned in 1945. She served through Atlantic and Caribbean operations, Operation Highjump Antarctic, and Mediterranean with 6th Fleet. Public naval references list this equipment aboard the USS Brownson, DD-868 — insulated and sealed with asbestos. Each shipyard overhaul and major repair meant asbestos insulation was torn out and replaced — peak-exposure work for the yard workers and the crew aboard. Exposure was worst in the engineering spaces, where the snipes worked — but asbestos lined the whole ship, so all hands were exposed. The companies that made the asbestos equipment aboard — not the Navy — are who asbestos claims are brought against. According to asbestos litigation records, the equipment aboard the USS Brownson from makers such as Babcock and Wilcox, Foster Wheeler, Foster-Wheeler, and General Electric Co. allegedly contained asbestos. If you served aboard the USS Brownson and were later diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or another asbestos-related disease, you may have a legal claim against the companies that made the asbestos products used aboard your ship. This is educational information from an independent publisher — not a law firm — and is not legal advice.
USS Brownson (DD-868) was a Gearing-class destroyer commissioned 17 November 1945 and serving through 30 September 1976 — Mediterranean Sixth Fleet, Korean War, Cuban Missile Crisis quarantine, and Vietnam War operations.
The 30-entry equipment manifest below is sourced from ship-specific BUSHIPS (Bureau of Ships) documentation identifying machinery and equipment installed aboard. Each entry is documented equipment with verified manufacturer attribution — primary-source material for asbestos-exposure case development by Navy veterans and surviving families.
Equipment Manifest
Equipment Manifest — USS Brownson (DD-868). 30 machinery/equipment entries identified through ship-specific BUSHIPS documentation. Manufacturers in bold link to documented asbestos-product history on AsbestosIndex.com.
The standard asbestos-containing materials installed throughout U.S. Navy destroyers of this era are documented to have included:
Pipe lagging and thermal insulation on main steam, feed-water, fuel-oil, condensate, and saltwater piping throughout machinery spaces
Boiler block insulation, refractory brick, and gun-blocks around the main boilers
Asbestos gaskets and braided packing in valves, flanges, pumps, condensers, heat exchangers, and turbine glands
Insulation jackets and removable lagging on main propulsion turbines, reduction gears, ship-service turbine generators, and forced-draft blowers
Sheet asbestos and Marinite panels as fire-stops, bulkhead insulation, and overhead insulation
Vinyl asbestos floor tile (VAT) in passageways, berthing, mess decks, and habitable compartments
Asbestos rope, wick, and tape in gland-seal applications throughout the engineering plant
Sailors in Boilerman, Machinist’s Mate, Engineman, Electrician’s Mate, Hull Maintenance Technician, Damage Controlman, and other engineering ratings worked routinely in spaces where these materials were installed, maintained, ripped out, and replaced.
VA Benefits for Brownson Veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural disease as conditions that may be service-connected for Navy veterans with documented asbestos exposure. The Brownson equipment manifest is direct documentary evidence of the asbestos-containing materials her crew worked around throughout her service life.
Parallel claims against the asbestos bankruptcy trust funds established by the manufacturers of these products are also available, and do not reduce VA compensation.
Equipment manifest derived from public-record BUSHIPS documentation specific to USS Brownson (DD-868). Manufacturer attribution links to documented asbestos-product histories on AsbestosIndex.com where available. Editorial review applied per site standards.
AsbestosIndex™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.
Documented Asbestos-Exposure Environments — U.S. Navy Service
Public-domain U.S. Navy photographs illustrating the engineering spaces, ratings, and yard environments where asbestos materials were routinely encountered during normal duty.
All images are public domain (U.S. Government works). Specific photographs depict generic Navy engineering and yard environments — not the named vessel above. Asbestos materials shown or implied include pipe lagging, boiler insulation, steam-line covering, and gasket / packing materials standard on U.S. Navy vessels through the early 1980s.
Brownson DD-868 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Brownson DD-868 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Brownson DD-868 is documented in the public U.S. Navy asbestos litigation record. U.S. Navy vessels of her service era were built to BUSHIPS specifications that required asbestos insulation throughout engineering spaces, on steam lines, around boilers and turbines, and in gasket and packing materials.
Which shipboard components on Brownson DD-868 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Brownson DD-868's era include: boiler insulation and lagging, steam-line pipe insulation, turbine and reduction-gear casings, valve packing, gaskets, brake and clutch friction materials, electrical wire insulation, overhead pipe coverings in berthing and mess spaces, and Navy-issue boiler cement and refractory in fireboxes.
What ratings were exposed to asbestos serving on Brownson DD-868?
Navy ratings with the highest documented asbestos exposure include Machinist's Mate (MM), Boiler Technician (BT), Hull Maintenance Technician (HT), Engineman (EN), Electrician's Mate (EM), Interior Communications Electrician (IC), Damage Controlman (DC), and Pipefitter / Shipfitter. Officers in engineering departments also encountered asbestos in normal duty. Shipyard workers performing overhaul, repair, or refit work had concentrated exposure during yard periods.
What equipment manufacturers are documented on Brownson DD-868?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Brownson DD-868 include: Babcock and Wilcox, Buffalo, De Laval, De Laval Co., Foster Wheeler, Foster-Wheeler, Gardner-Denver. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Brownson DD-868 veterans qualify for VA disability for mesothelioma?
Potentially. VA evaluates asbestos-related disability claims individually. Brownson DD-868 veterans generally need medical records showing the current disease, service records supporting in-service asbestos exposure, and a doctor's statement connecting the two. Veterans may file at VA.gov, call 1-800-827-1000, or seek free help from an accredited Veterans Service Organization such as DAV, VFW, or the American Legion.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this site. References to ships, shipyards, companies, products, and asbestos-containing materials are drawn from public VA records, NARA archives, EPA/OSHA databases, and public litigation records. All references reflect what has been documented or alleged in publicly filed records. Consult a licensed physician for medical guidance and a qualified attorney for legal advice regarding your specific situation.
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