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 · Norfolk — Moored/underway near Norfolk, per the ship's deck log.
1956
Mooring / movement — Moored/underway, per the ship's deck log.
1957
Mooring / movement · Norfolk — Moored/underway near Norfolk, 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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Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Rowe (DD-564) was a Fletcher-class destroyer that served with distinction during World War II, participating in strikes against the Kurils, radar picket duty off Okinawa, and screening operations with Task Force 38 against the Japanese home islands; she earned three battle stars for this service. After decommissioning in 1947, she was recommissioned in 1951 and served throughout the 1950s with the Atlantic Fleet, including a Korean War patrol deployment in 1954 and multiple Mediterranean cruises with the 6th Fleet. She was decommissioned again in November 1959 and struck from the Navy Directory in 1974.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co., Seattle, Washington
Laid down
1942-12-07
Launched
1943-09-30
Commissioned
1944-03-13
Decommissioned
1959-11
Notable Tours / Service Eras
WWII Pacific Theater 1944-1945
Korean War patrol duty 1954
Cold War Atlantic Fleet operations 1951-1959
Combat Actions
Strikes against the Kurils — Matsuwa To Island· 1944-11 Destroyer screen and support
Strikes against the Kurils — Suribati Wan· 1945-01 Destroyer screen and support
Strikes against the Kurils — Kurabu Zaki, Paramushiro Island· 1945-02 Destroyer screen and support
Task Force 38 strikes against Japanese home islands· 1945-07 Screen and plane guard
Bombardment of Omura, Chichi Jima· 1945-07 Bombardment support
Home Ports & Forward Bases
Norfolk, Virginia — home port 1952-1959
Charleston, South Carolina — 1946-1951 reserve fleet
Yokosuka, Japan — 1954
Sasebo, Japan — 1954
Pusan, Korea — 1954
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
Charleston, South Carolina· 1952 yard availability
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
20 June 1955 — rescued downed pilot during carrier operations with USS Bennington
4 June 1954 — assisted in search and rescue of downed U.S. Air Force aircraft, rescued six crew members
Final Disposition
struck from Navy Directory 1 December 1974
Read the video transcript
Did you serve aboard the USS Rowe? This destroyer carried asbestos in nearly every compartment. Here is where it was, and who is responsible. The USS Rowe, hull number DD-564, was a destroyer, built by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. and commissioned in 1944. She served through WWII Pacific Theater, Korean War patrol duty, and Cold War Atlantic Fleet operations. Public naval references list this equipment aboard the USS Rowe, DD-564 — 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 Rowe from makers such as Babcock and Wilcox, General Electric, Quimby, and Warren allegedly contained asbestos. If you served aboard the USS Rowe 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 Rowe (DD-564) was a Fletcher-class destroyer commissioned 13 March 1944 and serving the U.S. Navy through 1971 — 27 years that placed her in the heaviest asbestos-use era of Navy ship construction and overhaul. Her 53-entry equipment manifest is sourced from the Material Inspection Report dated 4/21/1952 — primary BUSHIPS documentation of the machinery installed aboard, including 4 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, General Electric main propulsion turbines, and Worthington auxiliary equipment throughout.
The 53-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 Rowe (DD-564). 53 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 destroyers 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 Rowe 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 Rowe 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 Rowe (DD-564). 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.
Rowe DD-564 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Rowe DD-564 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Rowe DD-564 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 Rowe DD-564 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Rowe DD-564'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 Rowe DD-564?
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 Rowe DD-564?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Rowe DD-564 include: Babcock & Wilcox, Buffalo, C.H. Wheeler, DeLaval, General Electric, General Motors, Griscom-Russell. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Rowe DD-564 veterans qualify for VA disability for mesothelioma?
Potentially. VA evaluates asbestos-related disability claims individually. Rowe DD-564 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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