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.
1956
Mooring / movement — Moored/underway, per the ship's deck log.
1957
Dry-docking — Dry-docked, per the ship's deck log.
1957
Dry-docking · Philadelphia Naval Shipyard — Dry-docked at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, 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 Dortch (DD-670) underway, in 1943 (19-N-49104)Source: Wikimedia Commons — public domain (U.S. Navy photograph)
Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Dortch (DD-670) was a Fletcher-class destroyer commissioned in August 1943 and served with the Fast Carrier Task Force in the Pacific Theater through World War II, participating in major campaigns from the Marshall Islands to Okinawa and occupation of Japan. After decommissioning in 1946, she was recommissioned in 1951 and served with the Atlantic Fleet and in Korean War operations before being transferred to the Argentine Navy as ARA Espora in 1961. The ship earned nine battle stars for her service and was scrapped in 1977 following decommissioning from the Argentine Navy.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Kearny, New Jersey
Laid down
1943-03-02
Launched
1943-06-20
Commissioned
1943-08-07
Decommissioned
1946-07-19
Notable Tours / Service Eras
WWII Pacific Theater 1943-1945
Korean War 1953
Cold War Atlantic Fleet 1951-1957
Mediterranean Fleet 1954-1957
Combat Actions
Marshall Islands campaign· 1944-01 screen for Fast Carrier Task Force TF 58
Truk raids· 1944-02 screen for Fast Carrier Task Force TF 58
Marianas raids· 1944-02 screen for Fast Carrier Task Force TF 58
Battle of the Philippine Sea· 1944-06 carrier screen
Battle for Leyte Gulf· 1944-10 carrier screen
Iwo Jima assault landings· 1945-02 patrol and transport screen
Tokyo raids· 1945-02 carrier screen
Okinawa operations· 1945-03 strikes and photo reconnaissance support
Home Ports & Forward Bases
Norfolk VA — 1943
Pearl Harbor HI — 1943-1945
Newport RI — home port 1951-1957
Tokyo Bay — occupation 1945
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
San Francisco west coast· 1945 overhaul
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
18 February 1945 attack on enemy picket vessel with USS Clarence K. Bronson — 14 casualties sustained
Final Disposition
transferred to Argentina as ARA Espora (D-21) 1961; scrapped 1977
Read the video transcript
Did you serve aboard the USS Dortch? This destroyer carried asbestos in nearly every compartment. Here is where it was, and who is responsible. The USS Dortch, hull number DD-670, was a destroyer, built by Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company and commissioned in 1943. She served through WWII Pacific Theater, Korean War, and Cold War Atlantic Fleet. Public naval references list this equipment aboard the USS Dortch, DD-670 — 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 Dortch from makers such as General Electric Company, Foster Wheeler Corporation, and Warren Pumps, Inc. allegedly contained asbestos. If you served aboard the USS Dortch 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 Dortch (DD-670) was a Fletcher-class destroyer commissioned 7 August 1943 — Pacific Theater WWII combat operations across the Solomons, Philippines, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa campaigns. Post-war service through 1958. Transferred to Argentina as ARA Espora.
The 5-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 Dortch (DD-670). 5 machinery/equipment entries identified through ship-specific BUSHIPS documentation. Manufacturers in bold link to documented asbestos-product history on AsbestosIndex.com.
Equipment
Manufacturer
Qty
Notes
L.P. Turbine to Condenser Inlet Flange Fitted Bolts
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 Dortch 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 Dortch 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 Dortch (DD-670). 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.
Dortch DD-670 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Dortch DD-670 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Dortch DD-670 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 Dortch DD-670 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Dortch DD-670'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 Dortch DD-670?
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 Dortch DD-670?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Dortch DD-670 include: Bethlehem Steel, Foster Wheeler Corporation, General Electric Company, Warren Pumps, Inc.. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Dortch DD-670 veterans qualify for VA disability for mesothelioma?
Potentially. VA evaluates asbestos-related disability claims individually. Dortch DD-670 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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