USS La Salle (LPD-3) — Equipment Manifest & Asbestos Exposure Record
Documented equipment manifest and asbestos exposure record for USS La Salle (LPD-3), a Raleigh-class amphibious transport dock in service 1964–2005. 5...
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.
1964
Mooring / movement — Moored/underway, per the ship's deck log.
1965
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 La Salle (AGF-3) underway in the Persian Gulf 1990.JPEGSource: Wikimedia Commons — public domain (U.S. Navy photograph)
Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS La Salle (LPD-3/AGF-3) was a Raleigh-class amphibious transport dock commissioned in 1964 that served extensively in Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern waters. Converted to a miscellaneous command ship (AGF-3) in 1972, she served as flagship for Commander Middle East Forces and later U.S. Sixth Fleet, participating in major Cold War operations including the Persian Gulf, Operation Desert Shield, and the War on Terrorism. Decommissioned in May 2005, she was sunk as a naval target in April 2007.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
New York Naval Shipyard, Brooklyn, New York
Laid down
1962-04-02
Launched
1963-08-03
Commissioned
1964-02-22
Decommissioned
2005-05-27
Notable Tours / Service Eras
Caribbean and Atlantic Fleet operations 1964–1968
Mediterranean and Sixth Fleet service 1968–1972
Middle East Force command ship 1972–2005
Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean operations 1972–2005
Operation Desert Shield 1990–1991
War on Terrorism 2001–2005
Combat Actions
Iran Air Flight 655 incident response· 1988-07 positioned for regional stability operations
Home Ports & Forward Bases
Norfolk, Virginia — home port 1964–1972
Bahrain — home port 1972–1994
Gaeta, Italy — home port 1994–2005
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
Norfolk Naval Shipyard· 1967 repairs
Norfolk Naval Shipyard· 1966 upkeep and modifications
Philadelphia Naval Shipyard· 1982–1983 extensive overhaul
Japan (unspecified)· 1988 major engine 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
3 November 1966 — recovered Gemini 2-MOL test space capsule near Ascension Island
1979 — assisted evacuation of 260 American and foreign civilians from Bandar Abbas during Iranian Hostage Crisis
1984 — conducted Red Sea minesweeping operations awarded Meritorious Unit Citation
May 1987 — provided firefighting and rescue assistance to USS Stark after Iraqi missile attack
21 September 1987 — staging ship for seizure of Iran Ajr minelaying vessel
Final Disposition
sunk as target ship 11 April 2007
Read the video transcript
Did you serve aboard the USS La Salle? This amphibious ship carried asbestos in nearly every compartment. Here is where it was, and who is responsible. The USS La Salle, hull number LPD-3, was an amphibious ship, built by New York Naval Shipyard and commissioned in 1964. She served through Caribbean and Atlantic Fleet operations, Mediterranean and Sixth Fleet service, and Middle East Force command ship. Public naval references list this equipment aboard the USS La Salle, LPD-3 — 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 La Salle from makers such as Babcock and Wilcox, and General Electric allegedly contained asbestos. If you served aboard the USS La Salle 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 La Salle (LPD-3 / AGF-3) was a Raleigh-class amphibious transport dock commissioned 22 February 1964 and serving the U.S. Navy through 2005 — Vietnam War amphibious operations, conversion to a Persian Gulf flagship in 1972, and over four decades of Middle East Force command-ship duty.
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 La Salle (LPD-3). 5 machinery/equipment entries identified through ship-specific BUSHIPS documentation. Manufacturers in bold link to documented asbestos-product history on AsbestosIndex.com.
The standard asbestos-containing materials installed throughout U.S. Navy amphibious transports 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 La Salle 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 La Salle 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 La Salle (LPD-3). 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.
La Salle LPD-3 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are La Salle LPD-3 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. La Salle LPD-3 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 La Salle LPD-3 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of La Salle LPD-3'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 La Salle LPD-3?
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 La Salle LPD-3?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard La Salle LPD-3 include: Babcock & Wilcox, Fairbanks, Morse & Co., General Electric, York Corporation. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do La Salle LPD-3 veterans qualify for VA disability for mesothelioma?
Potentially. VA evaluates asbestos-related disability claims individually. La Salle LPD-3 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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