USS Oberon (AKA-14) was a Crater-class attack cargo ship commissioned 15 December 1942 — North Africa landings (Operation Torch), Pacific Theater WWII amphibious operations, Korean War, and Cold War service through 1969.
The 48-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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiler | Foster Wheeler | Single uptake water tube design 'D' type | |
| Economizer | Foster Wheeler | ||
| Blower | Westinghouse Electric Co. | ||
| Blower | B F Sturtevant Co. | ||
| Main Propulsion Turbine | General Electric | Single Flow Impulse Stage Type | |
| Reduction Gear | General Electric | ||
| Reduction Gear | Falk Corp. | ||
| Main Condenser | Foster Wheeler | ||
| Main Condenser | Ingersoll Rand | ||
| Auxiliary Condenser | Foster Wheeler | ||
| Auxiliary Condenser | Ingersoll Rand | ||
| Main Distilling Apparatus | Griscom-Russell | ||
| Emergency Distilling Apparatus | Griscom-Russell | ||
| Ships Service Turbine Generator | Westinghouse Electric Co. | ||
| Ships Service Turbine Generator | General Electric | ||
| Ships Service Turbine Generator | DeLaval | ||
| Emergency Diesel Generator | General Motors | ||
| Emergency Diesel Generator | Fairbanks Morse | ||
| Ships Service Air Compressor | Worthington | ||
| Ships Service Air Compressor | B F Sturtevant | Turbine drive | |
| Main Refrigeration Unit | York Corp. | 2 | |
| Auxiliary Refrigeration Unit | Frick Ice Maker Co. | 1 | |
| Fuel Oil Heater | Griscom-Russell | ||
| Main Feed Pump | DeLaval | ||
| Main Feed Booster Pump | Warren Steam Pump Co. | ||
| Auxiliary Feed Booster Pump | DeLaval | ||
| Auxiliary Feed Booster Pump | Ingersoll Rand | ||
| Emergency Feed Pump | Warren Steam Pump Co. | ||
| Condenser Circulating Pump | Buffalo | ||
| Condenser Circulating Pump | Warren Steam Pump Co. | ||
| Fuel Oil Transfer Pump | DeLaval | ||
| Main Lubricating Pump | DeLaval | ||
| Bilge Pump | Ingersoll Rand | ||
| Bilge Pump | Gould | ||
| Fire and General Service Pump | Worthington | ||
| Vacuum Pump | Nash Pump Co. | Emergency priming | |
| Oil Purifier Pump | Gould | ||
| Diesel Oil Transfer Pump | Deming | ||
| Fire Pump | Buda Pump Corp. | ||
| Drainage Pump | Sawyer Electric Co. | ||
| Fresh Water Pump | Warren Steam Pump Co. | Hot water | |
| Fresh Water Pump | Worthington | Hot water | |
| Fresh Water Pump | Frederick Pumps | ||
| Fresh Water Pump | Micro-Westco | ||
| Emergency Fire Pump | Buda Pump Corp. | ||
| Lubricating Oil Purifier Pump | DeLaval | ||
| High Pressure Valve | Yarway | Steam traps | |
| Reduction Valve | Grove |
Asbestos-Containing Materials Aboard Oberon
The standard asbestos-containing materials installed throughout U.S. Navy attack cargo 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 Oberon 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 Oberon 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 Oberon (AKA-14). Manufacturer attribution links to documented asbestos-product histories on AsbestosIndex.com where available. Editorial review applied per site standards.