USS Hamul (AD-20) — Equipment Manifest & Asbestos Exposure Record
Documented equipment manifest and asbestos exposure record for USS Hamul (AD-20), a Dixie-class destroyer tender in service 1941–1973. 20 documented...
By Rights Watch Media Group LLC•June 6, 2026•3 min read
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 · Long Beach — Moored/underway near Long Beach, per the ship's deck log.
1956
Mooring / movement — Moored/underway, per the ship's deck log.
1956
Yard period / shipyard — In the shipyard, per the ship's deck log.
1957
Mooring / movement · Long Beach — Moored/underway near Long Beach, 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 Hamul (AD-20) at anchor in Great Sound, Bermuda, on 15 July 1944 (NH 86270)Source: Wikimedia Commons — public domain (U.S. Navy photograph)
Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Hamul (AD-20) served as a destroyer tender from 1943 through 1962, beginning with Atlantic Fleet operations supporting convoy escorts and destroyer shakedown training, then transitioning to Pacific service where she maintained amphibious craft for the Iwo Jima and Okinawa campaigns in 1945. Following World War II, she alternated between Cold War deployments to the Western Pacific in support of naval operations off Korea and the Far East, with periodic overhauls and maintenance at her home port of Long Beach. She earned one battle star for World War II service and one for Korean War service before decommissioning in 1962.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Company, Kearney, New Jersey
Iwo Jima Campaign· 1945-02 Amphibious craft preparation
Okinawa Campaign· 1945-05 Battle-damage repair
Home Ports & Forward Bases
Charleston, South Carolina — commissioned 1941
Boston, Massachusetts — 1942
Mobile, Alabama — conversion 1942
Casco Bay, Maine — 1943
Bermuda — 1943
Saipan — 1945
Ulithi — 1945
Okinawa — 1945-1946
San Diego, California — 1946
Plymouth, England — station ship 1947-1950
Sasebo, Japan — 1950
Long Beach, California — home port 1950-1962
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
Brooklyn Navy Yard· 1944-1945 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
Removed demolition charges from captured German submarine U-505 (first capture of regular enemy warship by U.S. Navy since 1815)
Final Disposition
Transferred to Maritime Administration; placed in National Defense Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay, Benicia, California
Read the video transcript
Did you serve aboard the USS Hamul? This tender carried asbestos in nearly every compartment. Here is where it was, and who is responsible. The USS Hamul, hull number AD-20, was a tender, built by Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company and commissioned in 1941. She served through WWII Atlantic Theater, WWII Atlantic Theater (Destroyer Escort Support), and WWII Pacific Theater. Public naval references list this equipment aboard the USS Hamul, AD-20 — 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 Hamul from makers such as Foster-Wheeler, DeLaval, Liquidus, and Citi-Wheeler allegedly contained asbestos. If you served aboard the USS Hamul 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 Hamul (AD-20) was a Dixie-class destroyer tender commissioned 16 June 1941 — Pacific Theater WWII destroyer support operations (Tulagi, Espiritu Santo, Mers-el-Kebir), Korean War, and Cold War service through 1973.
The 20-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 Hamul (AD-20). 20 machinery/equipment entries identified through ship-specific BUSHIPS documentation. Manufacturers in bold link to documented asbestos-product history on AsbestosIndex.com.
Three installed, fire and water side examination noted pitting
Asbestos-Containing Materials Aboard Hamul
The standard asbestos-containing materials installed throughout U.S. Navy destroyer tenders 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 Hamul 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 Hamul 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 Hamul (AD-20). 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.
Hamul AD-20 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Hamul AD-20 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Hamul AD-20 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 Hamul AD-20 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Hamul AD-20'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 Hamul AD-20?
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 Hamul AD-20?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Hamul AD-20 include: Citi-Wheeler, DeLaval, Foster-Wheeler, Gardner-Denver, Goulds, Liquidus, Worthington. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Hamul AD-20 veterans qualify for VA disability for mesothelioma?
Potentially. VA evaluates asbestos-related disability claims individually. Hamul AD-20 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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Maritime statute of limitations: 3 years from diagnosis (46 U.S.C. § 30106)
Runs in parallel with VA benefits — civil recovery does not reduce VA disability compensation
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