USS Catskill (LSV-1, ex-CM-6 minelayer, later MCS-1 mine countermeasures ship) was a vehicle landing ship commissioned 30 June 1943 — Pacific Theater WWII minelaying operations, post-war conversion to mine countermeasures, and Vietnam-era service through 1970.
The 10-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 | Manufacturer | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panel PWD | Bendix Aviation | 1 | 1C SE |
| Repeater Panel THD Gyro | Bendix Aviation | 1 | CAL 16104 |
| Alarm Unit | Bendix Aviation | 1 | UH NO C203 |
| Lubricating Oil Purifying System Heaters | Harrison Radiator Division of General Motors | 2 | Plus one spare core per vessel, BuShips Requisition 51, Lockport New York |
| Turbo Generator Sets | Westinghouse Electric | 1 | 500 KW, Contractor ref SHI LTR 106 dated May 31 1943 |
| Pipe Fittings | Crane Company | 836 Michigan Avenue Sales Division Chicago | |
| Pumps | Crane Company | Contract Number 1600, 836 Michigan Avenue Chicago | |
| DeLaval Pumps | DeLaval | Shipment required, Supervisor of Shipbuilding letter Feb 22 1944 | |
| Hydroelectric Steering Gears | Webster Brinkley | 1 | Supplied for transports, Purchase Order ML01 |
| Valves Various | Crane Company | BuShips file numbers 296, 466, 580, 589, 683, 1704, 1743 |
Asbestos-Containing Materials Aboard Catskill
The standard asbestos-containing materials installed throughout U.S. Navy landing ships 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 Catskill Veterans
The 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. The Catskill 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.
Speak with an asbestos attorney with Navy veterans experience →
Equipment manifest derived from public-record BUSHIPS documentation specific to USS Catskill (LSV-1). Manufacturer attribution links to documented asbestos-product histories on AsbestosIndex.com where available. Editorial review applied per site standards.