USS Caldwell (DD-69) is a documented U.S. Navy destroyer with asbestos-exposure evidence in the public litigation record. The equipment manifest below was assembled from depositions, expert reports, and manufacturer interrogatory responses filed in U.S. asbestos litigation that reference equipment installed aboard this vessel.
Equipment Manifest
| Equipment | Manufacturer | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moulded ring starting box packing | John Crane | Packing for pump glands aboard USS Caldwell | |
| Safety valve on #1 boiler | Penning Dowell & Koro, Inc. | Installed on BB1 boiler, BuShips plan DD-69, S5101-3 | |
| Furnaces #2 and #3 | Babcock & Wilcox | 2 | Single uptake divided furnace, superheated control, Manufacturers drawing MX-253001-C92, Navy model DD69 2, S5101-3 |
| Convection type low pressure steam heater | C.K. Duncan | 2 | Number 643, one located in forward crews washroom, one in after crews washroom, size 8, heating capacity 8000 BTU per hour |
| 4,000 GPD Distilling Plant Pumps | Buffalo Pumps Inc. | DD69 Class destroyer, referenced in Purchase Order DD809/G&C-221-225 | |
| 4000 GPD Distilling Plant Pumps | Buffalo Pumps Inc. | DD692 Class vessel, referenced for DD69 series | |
| Distilling Plant Controllers | Cutler-Hammer | Certification Data Sheet No. 145, Alt. 1 | |
| Distiller Condenser Circulating Pump | Buffalo Pumps Inc. | DD692 Class vessel | |
| Condensate Pump | Buffalo Pumps Inc. | DD692 Class vessel | |
| Fresh Water Distributing Pumps | Buffalo Pumps Inc. | DD692 Class vessel | |
| Evaporator Being Overboard Discharge Pump | Buffalo Pumps Inc. | DD692 Class vessel | |
| First Effect Tube Nest Drain Pump | Buffalo Pumps Inc. | For use with 4000 GPD distilling plant; DD692 Class vessel |
Note: this manifest is derived from public asbestos litigation records (depositions, expert reports, manufacturer interrogatories) rather than primary BUSHIPS construction documents. Entries reflect what has been documented or alleged in publicly filed legal records.
Asbestos-Containing Materials Aboard Caldwell
U.S. Navy destroyers built between the 1930s and 1980s were constructed with extensive asbestos-containing materials throughout machinery spaces, engineering plants, and habitability compartments. The standard ACM categories installed and maintained aboard included:
- Pipe lagging and thermal insulation — 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 and burner fronts.
- Asbestos gaskets and braided packing — valves, flanges, pumps, condensers, heat exchangers, and turbine glands.
- Insulation jackets and removable lagging — main propulsion turbines, reduction gears, ship-service turbine generators, and forced-draft blowers.
- Sheet asbestos and Marinite panels — fire-stops, bulkhead insulation, and overhead insulation throughout damage-control zones.
- Vinyl asbestos floor tile (VAT) — passageways, berthing, mess decks, wardroom, and habitable compartments.
- Asbestos rope, wick, and tape — gland-seal applications throughout the engineering plant.
Navy Ratings Most Exposed to Asbestos Aboard Caldwell
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.