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.
1958
Mooring / movement — Moored/underway, per the ship's deck log.
1959
Mooring / movement — Moored/underway, per the ship's deck log.
1961
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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Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Radford (DD-446), a Fletcher-class destroyer commissioned in 1942, saw extensive combat in the Pacific Theater during World War II, including the Battles of Kula Gulf and Kolombangara, and sank the Japanese submarine I-19. Following Korean War service and multiple Vietnam War deployments from 1965–1969, she was decommissioned in 1969 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register in November 1969. The ship was sold for scrap in October 1970, but notably broke away from her towing vessel en route to the scrapyard, creating a 34-mile chase toward the Oregon coast.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Kearny, New Jersey
Laid down
1941-10-02
Launched
1942-05-03
Commissioned
1942-07-22
Decommissioned
1969
Notable Tours / Service Eras
WWII Pacific Theater 1942-1945
Korean War 1949-1953
Vietnam War 1965-1969
Combat Actions
Battle of Kula Gulf· 1943-07 Combat operations; rescue of USS Helena survivors
Battle of Kolombangara· 1943-07 Combat operations
Anti-submarine operations; sinking of I-19· 1943-11-25 Depth charged and sank Japanese submarine I-19
Luzon Liberation Support· 1944-12 Mine damage; naval support
Sea Dragon operations· 1965 Combat operations
Market Time operations· 1965-1969 Coastal patrol and interdiction
Gulf of Tonkin operations· 1966 Aircraft carrier escort
Home Ports & Forward Bases
San Francisco — decommissioned and placed in reserve 1946
Pearl Harbor — home base for Korean War and Vietnam War operations
Vallejo, California — final port before scrapping 1970
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
Pearl Harbor Navy Yard· 1960 FRAM II Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization 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
Broke away from tug en route to scrapyard in 1970; 34-mile chase toward Oregon coast
Final Disposition
Sold for scrap October 1970
Read the video transcript
Did you serve aboard the USS Radford? This destroyer carried asbestos in nearly every compartment. Here is where it was, and who is responsible. The USS Radford, hull number DD-446, was a destroyer, built by Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company and commissioned in 1942. She served through WWII Pacific Theater, Korean War, and Vietnam War. Public naval references list this equipment aboard the USS Radford, DD-446 — 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 Radford from makers such as Westinghouse, Warren Steam Pump Company, Inc., Warren Steam Pump Company, and Copper and Company Nickel allegedly contained asbestos. If you served aboard the USS Radford 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 Radford (DD-446) is a documented U.S. Navy destroyer with asbestos-exposure evidence in the public litigation record. The equipment manifest below was assembled from depositions, expert reports, and manufacturer interrogatory responses filed in U.S. asbestos litigation that reference equipment installed aboard this vessel.
Equipment Manifest
Equipment Manifest — USS Radford (DD-446). 7 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
Main Condenser Circulating Pump
Warren Steam Pump Company, Inc.
USS Radford (DD-446), S.O. A-15320
Main Circulating Pump
Warren Steam Pump Company
2
Serial numbers 10089 and 10090 installed aboard USS Radford (DD-446)
Serial numbers 1-A-9980-54 and 1-A-9980-55 paired with main circulating pumps on USS Radford (DD-446)
Welding Sleeve Coupling
Holden
DD445-S4810-130
Pipes 1/4" to 10"
Copper & Company Nickel
DD445-S4810-131
Forged and Soldered Pipe Fittings 1/4" to 5"
Holden
DD445-S4810-132
Taylor Universal Joint
Taylor
DD445-S4810-134; for head open gear only
Note: this manifest is derived from public asbestos litigation records (depositions, expert reports, manufacturer interrogatories) rather than primary BUSHIPS construction documents. Entries reflect what has been documented or alleged in publicly filed legal records.
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.
Navy Ratings Most Exposed to Asbestos Aboard Radford
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the public asbestos litigation record document that the following Navy ratings worked routinely in spaces where ACM was installed, maintained, ripped out, and replaced:
Fireman (FN) — engineering-plant tending across boiler and engine rooms
VA Disability Claims for Asbestos-Related Disease
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs evaluates asbestos claims individually. A veteran generally needs medical evidence of a current asbestos-related disease, service evidence supporting in-service asbestos exposure, and a medical opinion connecting the two. Ship assignments, Navy ratings, and equipment records can help document the exposure history but do not create automatic service connection.
Approved claims may provide monthly disability compensation and related benefits. Survivors may separately qualify for Dependency & Indemnity Compensation when the applicable requirements are met. Civil lawsuits and asbestos-trust claims use different standards; claimants should obtain individualized advice about how the processes interact.
How to file a VA disability claim: VA claims are filed directly with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — not with a law firm. Start at VA.gov › Hazardous Materials Exposure, call 1‑800‑827‑1000, or get free help filing from a Veterans Service Organization: DAV, VFW, or American Legion.
Source notes: equipment-manifest entries (where shown) are sourced from public-record BUSHIPS (Bureau of Ships) documentation, NARA archives, and the public asbestos litigation record. Manufacturer attributions link to documented asbestos-product histories on AsbestosIndex.com where available. Nothing on this page constitutes medical or legal advice.
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.
Radford DD-446 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Radford DD-446 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Radford DD-446 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 Radford DD-446 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Radford DD-446'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 Radford DD-446?
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 Radford DD-446?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Radford DD-446 include: Copper & Company Nickel, Holden, Taylor, Warren Steam Pump Company, Warren Steam Pump Company, Inc., Westinghouse. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Radford DD-446 veterans qualify for VA disability for mesothelioma?
Potentially. VA evaluates asbestos-related disability claims individually. Radford DD-446 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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