USS Independence (CV-62) was a Forrestal-class supercarrier commissioned 10 January 1959 and serving the U.S. Navy through 30 September 1998 — 39 years of continuous service including Cuban Missile Crisis quarantine, Vietnam War operations, Lebanon, Beirut, the 1986 Libya strikes, Desert Shield/Desert Storm, and the 1996 Taiwan Strait crisis. The 16-entry equipment manifest below documents key machinery installed aboard, with manufacturer attribution from BUSHIPS records.
Equipment Manifest
| Equipment | Manufacturer | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh Water Drain Tank Pump | Well Pump Co | ||
| Bilge & Fuel Oil Tank Stripping Pump | Warren Pumps Inc | ||
| Motor-Driven Fire Pump | Allis-Chalmers Mfg Co | ||
| Distilling Plant Pumps: Feed Pump, Brine Overboard Pump, Distillate Pump, Salt Water Heater Drain Pump | Worthington Corp | ||
| Horizontal Air Conditioning Cooling Chilled Water Pump | M. T. Davidson Co | ||
| Main Lube Oil Service Pump, Motor Driven | DeLaval Steam Turbine Co | ||
| Horizontal 1500-KW Generator Condenser Circulating Pump | M. T. Davidson Co | ||
| Horizontal Low Pressure Steam Drain Transfer Pump | M. T. Davidson Co | ||
| Turbine-Driven Fuel Oil Service Pump | DeLaval Steam Turbine Co | ||
| Horizontal Foam Liquid Booster Pump | M. T. Davidson Co | ||
| Rotary Chain Driven Pump for Main Thrust Bearing | Philadelphia Gear Works, Inc | ||
| Aviation Lube Oil Pump | DeLaval Steam Turbine Co | ||
| Diesel Fuel Oil Transfer Pump | DeLaval Steam Turbine Co | ||
| Turbine-Driven Fire Pump | Allis-Chalmers Mfg Co | ||
| Port Fuel Oil Service Pump | DeLaval Steam Turbine Co | ||
| Auxiliary Machinery: Cooling Water Pump; Mechanical Cooling, Salt Water Circulating Pump; Drinking Water, Refrigeration Condenser, Circulating Pump; Emergency Diesel Salt Water Booster Pump | Buffalo Pumps Inc |
Asbestos-Containing Materials Aboard Independence
The standard asbestos-containing materials installed throughout U.S. Navy aircraft carriers 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 Independence 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 Independence 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 Independence (CV-62). Manufacturer attribution links to documented asbestos-product histories on AsbestosIndex.com where available. Editorial review applied per site standards.