USS Ruchamkin (APD-89 / LPR-89) was a Crosley-class high-speed transport commissioned 16 February 1945 — Pacific Theater WWII underwater demolition team operations, Korean War, and Cold War amphibious force service through 1969.
The 18-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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel Engine | Fairbanks Morse | 2 | Main propulsion |
| Electric Generator | General Electric | 3 | Power generation |
| Evaporator | Combustion Engineering | 1 | Fresh water production |
| Pump | Worthington | Various applications | |
| Air Compressor | Ingersoll Rand | Ship systems | |
| Refrigeration Unit | Carrier | Cooling systems | |
| Steering Gear | Rexnord | 1 | Rudder control |
| Winch | Hevi-Duty | Cargo handling | |
| Diesel Engine - Cubic Foot HR Air Compression | Escort Vessels | 1 | High speed transport expediency |
| Air Compressor | Worthington | ||
| Electric Motor | General Electric | ||
| Turbine | Westinghouse | ||
| Boiler | Babcock & Wilcox | ||
| Condenser | Westinghouse | ||
| Diesel Engine | Fairbanks-Morse | ||
| Switchboard | General Electric | ||
| Turbo-Electric Motor | Ingersoll-Rand Co. | 1 | 24 HP, 695 RPM, 440 volts, 3-phase 60 cycle |
| Air Compressor | Ingersoll-Rand Co. | 1 | 75 cubic foot, high speed transport type |
Asbestos-Containing Materials Aboard Ruchamkin
The standard asbestos-containing materials installed throughout U.S. Navy high-speed 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 Ruchamkin 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 Ruchamkin 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 Ruchamkin (APD-89). Manufacturer attribution links to documented asbestos-product histories on AsbestosIndex.com where available. Editorial review applied per site standards.